Iran Press/ Asia: "We support an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process with the participation of all political groups and factions including the Taliban with the Afghan government in the center," Foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in his remarks in the Conference of Heart of Asia Countries in Istanbul.
"Let’s hope for a peaceful, stable and secure Afghanistan that would certainly be a trustworthy partner for the region and the world," Zarif said, addressing the 8th Ministerial Conference of Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process, Iran Press reported.
The Iranian minister pointed to Tehran’s readiness to help establish and boost intra-Afghan talks with the participation of the Afghan government and all other influential political groups.
“Announcement of a timetable for a responsible exit of foreign troops from Afghanistan would prepare the necessary ground for the Afghan government to promote peace and reconciliation process at the national level,” Zarif added.
Zarif also said that Iran is ready to enhance economic and cultural ties with the neighbouring country.
A Taliban delegation headed by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the deputy political chief and head of the political office of the Taliban in Qatar, held a meeting with Foreign Minister Zarif on Tuesday in Tehran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Istanbul on Monday to take part in the 8th Ministerial Conference of The Heart of Asia–Istanbul Process, met with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Istanbul.
The conference was inaugurated on Monday by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani, with Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Idrees Zaman, acting minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, acting as co-chairs, according to a Turkish Foreign Ministry statement.
The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process initiative was launched in 2011 in Istanbul by Turkey and Afghanistan to enhance regional cooperation vis-a-vis Afghanistan. 207/211/205
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