TEHRAN -- The Swiss newspaper ****Neue Zurcher**** said on Tuesday that the Iranian President Mohammad Khatami paid a visit to Afghanistan in the post-Taleban era. The newspaper added, "The Afghan transitional government Head Hamid Karzai and military forces officially welcomed the Iranian president heading a ranking delegation."

Khatami's one-day visit was intended to expand Iran's cooperation with the war-shattered Afghanistan, added ****Neue Zurcher****.

It also pointed to Khatami's speech in Tehran before his departure, quoting the Iranian president as saying that Iran will help rebuild war-ravaged Afghanistan and establish peace, stability and security.