Iran's President: We welcome formation of an inclusive gov’t in Afghanistan

AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Emphasising the development of relations between Iran and Tajikistan, the President said, "The very good relations between the two countries in the fields of trade, culture and economy will continue with strength".

Expressing satisfaction with the reunion with the President of Tajikistan after the Shanghai Summit, Dr Raisi said, "My first foreign trip as President of Iran was to Tajikistan, and this trip was the source of a change in relations between the two countries".

Ayatollah Raisi added, "Today's meeting is important in two ways; first, review past actions, and second, decide on future relations”.

Referring to the meeting with his Tajik counterpart in Dushanbe on the sidelines of the Shanghai Summit, the President said, "That meeting was very valuable and effective and made a significant difference in the level of relations and this increase in relations between the two countries will benefit the region".

Ayatollah Raisi added, "Very good relations between Iran and Tajikistan in the fields of trade, culture and economy will continue strong".

"We have no doubt that relations will be developing, because the current level of trade is not convincing, and by restoring capacities between the two countries, the level of relations can be improved many times over," he said.

Ayatollah Raisi invited Emomali Rahmon to visit Tehran and said, "We feel that due to the deep cultural and linguistic relations and the long history of friendship, we should cooperate and think together more than others".

Regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran's position on Afghanistan, Ayatollah Raisi said, "Our position on Afghanistan is clear. The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes the formation of a truly inclusive government in Afghanistan that represents all Afghan people, ethnic groups and political groups”.

The President emphasised, "The Americans were present in Afghanistan for two decades and left nothing but murder and looting for this country. In Iran, we proudly welcome about 4 million Afghans. We host the Afghans and we hope that the people of this country will decide their own future”.

Ayatollah Raisi called ISIS a terrorist and said, "ISIS creates insecurity for the region; this group is created by the Americans. ISIS is killing on behalf of the Americans in the region. Our cooperation with you is in the interest of the security of the region and Afghanistan, and it is important in this regard”.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon also said that all ethnic groups should be present in the Afghan government and that the government should represent all ethnic groups and tribes.

Referring to the recent developments in Afghanistan, the President of Tajikistan stressed, "Insecurity in the country is to the detriment of the region and neighbouring countries of Afghanistan, so we are worried about the future of this country and we should all try to make different ethnic groups and people live comfortably in this country".

Referring to his previous meeting with Ayatollah Raisi, Emomali Rahmon said, "After that meeting, the level of relations between the two countries have developed and the growth of trade exchanges will multiply in the future".

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