Asia

Asia

Iran offers to host next Afghan meeting

12 December 2010 00:22 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki says the country is ready to host the next high level meeting of Afghanistan’s neighbors in the city of Tehran, APA reports quoting Press TV.

â€œDuring the Kabul conference we proposed a ministerial meeting of Afghanistan’s neighbors, we believe that such a meeting should be held as soon as possible â€¦ therefore we are ready to host such an event in Tehran,â€ Mottaki told Kabul’s new ambassador to Tehran, Obaidullah Obaid.

â€œAnyone claiming to be Afghanistan’s friend should assist the country’s government â€¦ as the administration in Kabul seeks tranquility and progress. Supporting the Kabul government means supporting the country’s integrity, national unity, tranquility and stability,â€ he added.

Leaders of 70 countries met in the Afghan capital, Kabul, in late July to show their support for Afghanistan.

The delegates also backed President Hamid Karzai’s call for the international community to channel at least 50 percent of development aid through the Afghan government.

Iran blames foreign forces for the continuing instability in Afghanistan and has called for a complete pullout from the country.

More than 100,000 Afghans have been killed since the US-led invasion of the country in 2001.

The loss of civilian lives at the hand of foreign forces has led to a dramatic increase in anti-American sentiments in Afghanistan.