Iran calls for rapid implementation of cooperation with Afghanistan

Iran's Justice Minister Morteza Bakhtiari praised the fruitful results of the tens of cooperation agreements signed and implemented by Tehran and Kabul after the collapse of the Taliban in Afghanistan, and called for the accelerated implementation of the agreements recently inked by the two sides. "After the collapse of the Taliban (regime), over 30 bilateral and trilateral cooperation documents have been signed between Iran and Afghanistan, which have caused an increase in the trade exchanges between the two countries," Bakhtiari said at a meeting with visiting Afghan Judiciary Chief Abdul Salam Azimi here in Tehran on Sunday. He also mentioned establishment and launch of operation of 3 border customs offices and 7 border markets a positive result of the same cooperation contracts. Yet, the Iranian justice minister asked for an accelerated implementation of all cooperation agreements between the two sides. As regards Tehran-Kabul judicial cooperation, Bakhtiari announced that 3 agreements on extradition of criminals, judicial assistance and transfer of convicts were signed in the two countries' 4th joint cooperation commission meeting, and added that all the three agreements have gone under the needed legal procedures, and Iran and Afghanistan are now fully ready to implement them. 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.