Neighbors should join hands to help rebuild Afghanistan: Iran

Iran has called on Afghanistan’s neighboring and friendly countries to strengthen cooperation in the reconstruction of the conflict-ridden state and boost assistance to the oppressed nation without political and legal considerations.

According to Press TV, in a statement to the third meeting of foreign ministers of the countries neighboring Afghanistan in Tunxi, China, on Thursday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian expressed hope for regional convergence to help the South Asian country overcome various challenges.

“We should all join hands to prevent Afghanistan from turning once again into a battleground for political and military conflicts. Without doubt, the people of Afghanistan and neighboring countries will be the first victims of the destructive outcomes of such a situation,” he said.

“It is necessary that Afghanistan’s neighbors and friendly countries come up with relevant mechanisms to strengthen cooperation in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan.”

Amir-Abdollahian also stressed that the root cause of problems in Afghanistan is “the long-term occupation and misguided policies of the occupiers, mainly the United States.”

The occupation of Afghanistan “did not contribute to its development, but caused some sort of dependency which resulted in the collapse of Afghanistan’s political and economic structures when the occupiers withdrew and like always, left the oppressed people of Afghanistan as losers and victims,” he added.

The top Iranian diplomat further voiced concerns about the difficult humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, saying it is necessary for all countries, particularly the neighboring ones, to assist its people in any way without highlighting political and legal issues.

The Islamic Republic, he noted, has over the past several months distributed more than 30 consignments of humanitarian aid among the people of Afghanistan, exported basic commodities to the country and kept its transit routes open to Afghan containers.

He also said that the freezing of Afghanistan’s financial assets has further exacerbated the humanitarian situation there.

Additionally, Amir-Abdollahian raised alarm at the recruitments by terrorist and radical groups, such as Daesh in Afghanistan, underlining the need for collective measures by the countries of the region to combat terrorism.

ME