TEHRAN – Richard Smith, the Australian premier’s special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, met with Ali Baqeri, the deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.

Smith said Iran plays an important role in resolving regional issues and called for continued dialogue with Tehran over regional issues including the Afghanistan war.
Baqeri said Afghanistan has fallen into disarray mainly because of the wrong strategy followed by the U.S. and its allies in the country over the past 9 years.
Almost ten years have passed since foreigners occupied Afghanistan under the pretext of fighting terrorism, however, insecurity and drug cultivation has increased greatly in the country since that date, he stated.
The best way to end the chaotic situation in Afghanistan is to hand over affairs to the Afghans themselves and pulling foreign troops out of the country.
He also said Iran has spared no effort to help Afghans to settle their problems and will continue to do so in the future