Iranian President Ahmadinejad pays first visit to Afghanistan

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Source: CCTV.com | 08-15-2007 09:21

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, laughs as Afghan President Hamid Karzai and himself joke with journalists at a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday Aug. 14, 2007. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was in neighboring Afghanistan for the first time on Tuesday. The visit came a week after Afghan leader Hamid Karzai described Tehran as playing a positive role in his country.

US officials have repeatedly accused Tehran of supplying arms to Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.

Ahmadinejad denied the allegation and said a stable Afghanistan would benefit Iran and the whole region.

Ahmadinejad said, "We strongly support the political process in Afghanistan. The security in Afghanistan has a major impact on Iran because we have the largest joint border. A strong and stable Afghanistan is best for Iran."

Ahmadinejad also lashed out at the policies of certain Western and Persian Gulf governments.

Ahmadinejad said, "There are some people who typically want to use their power as much as they can to impose themselves, as well as their personal ideas, on others. This is the root of terrorism."

For his part, the Afghan president said he hopes his country could help improve relations between Iran and the US.

Karzai said, "If Afghanistan can bring the two great nations of Iran and the US together, it will be a great achievement for us. But this depends more on these two countries. Afghanistan is ready and will do its part."

As to Iran's crackdown on illegal Afghan migrants in recent months, Ahmadinejad said the Afghan refugees living in Iran enjoy the same rights as Iranian citizens. But he noted that anyone who violates Iranian laws would face prosecution.

Over the past few months, thousands of Afghan refugees have been deported from Iran because they were not legally registered in the country.

Just before the press conference, the two presidents inked a memorandum of understanding for enhancing bilateral relations.

Editor:Du Xiaodan