Iran, Afghanistan to Cooperate in Fight against Drug Abuse, Production

(Tasnim) – Iran is ready to cooperate with Afghanistan in its fight against drug production and abuse, head of the Strategic Research Center of Iran’s Expediency Council Ali Akbar Velayati said.

“Given the dissatisfaction of Afghan government with drug cultivation in the country, Kabul is prepared to work with the neighboring countries in this regard (fight against drug production)," Velayati said in a meeting with the visiting Afghan Deputy Prime Minister.

Velayati at the same time noted that Iran is ready to help Afghanistan treat addiction among Afghan youths.

The United Nations has estimated that opium trafficking accounts for up to 15 percent of Afghanistan’s gross domestic product. Since 2001, the opium cultivation has increased over 4,400% across Afghanistan.

He aslo said he and the Afghan official discussed counter-terrorism, he expressed the hope that Afghanistan could overcome terrorism.

Velayati, who is also former Iranian foreign minister, said the two neighboring countries plan to boost cooperation in the regional organizations, including the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The Afghan official, for his part, said he discussed regional developments with Velayati.

He further said the Iranian authorities have agreed with the extension of visas for 450,000 Afghan refugees residing in Iran.