TEHRAN – Iran’s foreign minister has renewed support for Afghanistan as the country is transitioning sluggishly to a more stable, secure and advanced country, according to ISNA on Sunday. 

Mohammad Javad Zarif made the remarks at the 6th Heart of Asia ministerial conference in New Delhi, India, on Sunday.

“Our region still suffers from a worrying rise in extremist violence and the growing trend in drugs production threatens our societies,” Zarif noted.

He also hailed Afghan government’s achievements in making peace with the Hezb-i-Islami militant group, led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

“We have made some progress but we have a long way to go,” said Zarif, referring to the measures taken by regional countries to restore peace to Afghanistan.

The senior Iranian diplomat further noted that the challenges facing Afghanistan and the region are interconnected.

Zarif also met with Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia Conference on Sunday.

According to IRNA, the two sides discussed development of security, political, and economic cooperation.

The Heart of Asia was launched in November 2011 to expand practical coordination between Afghanistan and its neighbors and regional partners in facing common threats, including counterterrorism, counternarcotics, poverty, and extremism.

MH/AK