The Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Saeed Jalili says Iran and Afghanistan should not allow the West to negatively influence their friendly ties.

Jalili made the remark during a meeting with Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul in Kabul on Sunday.

Jalili also stressed the expansion of ties between the two countries.

Zalmai, for his part, said Afghanistan is positive about the future relations between the two sides.

Jalili met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul on Saturday.

During the meeting, he pointed out that the strong ties between the governments of Iran and Afghanistan are based on deep and historical friendship between the two nations.

The Afghan president noted that Tehran-Kabul ties have been bolstered in recent years due to the two nations’ demand and the efforts made by the two countries’ governments.

Jalili arrived in Kabul on January 4 after wrapping up a three-day-long visit to India where he held talks with his Indian counterpart, Shivshankar Menon.

His visit to Kabul took place upon an invitation by the Afghan government to discuss ways to further expand ties between the two neighboring countries.

Iran has been playing a helping role in Afghanistan. The Islamic Republic has so far spent over 600 million dollars to build hospitals, schools, bridges, roads, and railways in the country.


The Iranian government has on various occasions expressed concerns over the US double-standard policies regarding the so-called war on terror in Afghanistan.
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