Salehi: Withdrawal of foreign troops helps Afghan peace, stability

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, July 8, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on Sunday that withdrawal of alien forces will bring peace and stability to Afghanistan.

According to the Information and Press Bureau of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Salehi made the remarks in his address to International Conference of foreign ministers on Afghanistan underway in Tokyo.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to its pledge of contribution to Afghan reconstruction, he said.

Salehi said that Iran would continue with financial support for implementing infrastructural projects in Afghanistan.

The international community should pay due attention to the sufferings of Afghan refugees and create suitable situation for their repatriation by carrying out development projects in the country, he said.

Salehi said that it is over ten years that foreign forces have entered Afghan territory which deteriorated stability in the country, fomenting terrorism and drug trafficking.

"The Afghan government is responsible for initiating campaign against all types of corruption as well as drug trafficking. Such a goal will be materialized through national reconciliation and making use of all social forces of the Afghan people to help restore peace, stability and bring economic growth to the country."

“We hope that after withdrawal of foreign forces which left negative impacts on the country’s development we will witness closure of military bases of foreigners and return of peace and stability to the war-stricken country,” he said.

Meanwhile, Salehi conferred with his German and Japanese counterparts on issues of mutual, regional as well as global developments on the sidelines of the Conference.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 1022551