Great struggle against terrorism in Afghanistan essential: Deputy FM

Rahimpour made the remarks in a Friday consultative meeting on Afghanistan which was held in Moscow.

He pointed to Iran’s long-standing hosting of about three million Afghans, saying that Iran is ready to cooperate with Afghanistan in maintaining peace and solving domestic and regional problems like drug trafficking and security affairs.

He expressed concern over the security conditions in Afghanistan and said it is necessary to send a firm message to terrorists on determination of regional countries in fighting terrorism.

In addition to Iran, Afghanistan, Russia, special representatives and senior officials of China, India, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan participated in the meeting.

The meeting underlined that Afghanistan crisis has no military solution and the only possible way for addressing the situation in the country is getting access to national reconciliation through diplomatic approaches on the basis of UN Security Council's resolutions.

Participants also reaffirmed their support to the Afghan government and political and social forces in line with establishing peace and security and voiced their full readiness for helping Kabul in the field.

Russian Foreign Ministry announced in a statement that US representative was also invited to the event, but they did not take part for unknown reasons.

The main topic of the meeting was coordinating regional efforts to help advance national reconciliation in Afghanistan in a bid to establish peace and stability in the country soon.

The statement further noted that participants in the meeting expressed concern over escalation of terroristic moves in the country which are leading to a surge in bloodshed and problems.

They also urged Taliban to give up armed conflict and turn to direct dialogue with the Afghan government to help achieve peace in the country.

Second Meeting on Afghanistan attended by Russia, Pakistan, China, India, Iran and Afghanistan was held in Moscow late in 2016.

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