<p><a href="/en/afganistan/kabul" class="glossify-link">KABUL</a> is ready to cooperate with Iran in economic, trade, counter-narcotics and border issues with a clear roadmap.</p>
<p>A statement from the Presidential Palace said President Ghani met Iran’s Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammad Javad Zarif and the high level delegation accompanying him at the palace on Sunday.</p>
<p>The president welcomed Javad Zarif and his delegation. He expressed condolences to the people and government of Iran over the loss of coalmine workers. He hoped the next presidential elections in Iran would be a success.</p>
<p>“Today we see high perspectives of cooperation in relations between Afghanistan and Iran,” Ghani added.</p>
<p>Ghani said they negotiated with Iran in good faith and Afghanistan was ready to introduce its working committee soon so both sides were able to support a clear timetable for reaching a comprehensive agreement.</p>
<p>Ghani said the conflict in Afghanistan was not internal and his country’s stability should be sacrificed for regional rivalries.</p>
<p>He said strict measures had been taken against Daesh and no one would be allowed to use Afghanistan’s soil against its neighbors.</p>
<p>Iran's foreign minister, Dr. Mohammad Javad Zarif and delegation thanked the president for the warm welcome and expressed condolences and sympathies to President Ghani and people of Afghanistan over the terrorist attack on the 209th Shaheen Corps. </p>
<p>He said terrorism posed threat to the entire region. Zarif said they supported the Afghan led peace talks and were committed to strategic and long relationship with Afghanistan.</p>
<p>He said Iran would not participate in meetings on Afghanistan in absence of its representatives. He said Tehran believed the government and the people of Afghanistan could decide about their future.</p>
<p>Second Vice-President Sarwar Danish, who was present in the meeting, said Afghan refugees whose passports expired in Iran in May should be issued new passports.</p>
<p>Chief Executive Officer Dr. Abdullah Abdullah said Afghanistan enjoyed good relations with Islamic countries, particularly Iran and the Afghan government was trying to improve relations with Iran.</p>
<p>kh/ma</p>
