Strategic deal with US no threat to Iran: Karzai

KABUL): President Hamid Karzai has assured his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that the Afghan-US strategic cooperation deal in no way posed any threat to Iran. 

At a meeting on the sidelines of the 12th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Beijing, Karzai assured the Iranian leader that Afghanistan would never allow its soil to be used against any country.

“I hope that Iran’s misunderstanding and concern over the issue will be removed soon,” Karzai was quoted in a statement issued from the Presidential Palace in Kabul on Friday.

In order to overcome its problems meet its requirements, Afghanistan had entered strategic cooperation agreements with several countries, the president said, without elaborating on the problems.

According to the statement, Ahmadinejad said that he was appreciative of the situation that Afghanistan had been in and hoped for the development of the impoverished neighbour.

The two leaders, who agreed on improving bilateral relations, also discussed the issue of Afghan refugees in Iran. Ahmadinejad promised cooperation in resolving refugees’ problems, asking Kabul to issue passports to them.

While exchanging views on recent developments in the region, they stressed the need for restoration of peace and stability.

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