KABUL (Pajhwok): Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss bilateral relations.
According to a statement from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Baradar expressed condolences to the Iranian government and people over the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, described in the statement as Iran’s religious leader. The two sides also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties.
The statement said Baradar highlighted the many cultural, historical, and economic commonalities between Afghanistan and Iran, emphasizing that the neighboring countries share broad and significant mutual interests.
Baradar also said the Islamic Emirate’s position on the US and Israeli attack on Iran has remained clear and consistent, describing the attack as illegitimate and condemning it.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, for his part, emphasized the close and friendly relations between the two nations, saying both countries should make full use of existing opportunities to advance the welfare of their peoples.
According to the statement, Pezeshkian described expanding relations with Afghanistan as one of his government’s key priorities and stressed that both governments should utilize all available capacities to deepen bilateral cooperation.
Baradar arrived in Iran on Thursday, accompanied by Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister, to attend the funeral ceremony of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is referred to in the statement as Iran’s former religious leader.
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