Afghanistan seeks Iran's help in judiciary affairs

Afghanistan's Judiciary Chief Abdul Salam Azimi in a meeting with Iranian Justice Minister Morteza Bakhtiari hailed Iran's independence from the world powers in all arenas, and announced that Kabul is keen to use Tehran's experiences in judicial affairs. "The Islamic Republic is a country which has relied on its own capabilities in all areas but Afghanistan has always depended on others due to its special conditions and the events that it has experienced during the war," Azimi said during the meeting in Tehran on Sunday. He said that paving the ground for more interactions with Iran in judiciary affairs is the main goal of his visit to Iran, and said, "Fortunately, at present three agreements have been inked with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the legal procedures for their verification is complete now." Azimi also voiced concern about increasing insecurity in his country, lamenting that insecurity has caused a growth in drug plantation and production in Afghanistan. "If security existed in our country, no one could cultivate drugs," he said. Azimi arrived in Tehran at the head of a high-ranking delegation on Saturday to discuss bilateral ties and mutual cooperation with senior Iranian officials. During his stay in Tehran, he will also held talks with Iran's Judiciary Chief Sadeq Amoli Larijani, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and other senior Iranian officials, specially about judicial issues. Iran is one of the most important donors to Afghanistan which has kept its promises to help to the reconstruction of the war-hit country. Iran has built some roads, power transmission lines, and border stations, among the other infrastructure projects which would better link the two nations. Iran has also contributed more than $50 million annually to Afghan anti-narcotics efforts in the last 8 years.