News Story: Security, Mutual Relations Top Ghani, Rouhani Meeting

By Massoud Ansar

President Ashraf Ghani met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of his official visit to Tehran on Saturday afternoon where they discussed issues of mutual interest, security in particular.

The Presidential Palace said that boosting Kabul/Tehran ties, security and development were core parts of Ghani and Rouhani’s meeting in Tehran.

Ghani left Kabul on Saturday morning to attend Rouhani’s oath-taking ceremony.

“The president’s trip to Iran is for one day and is aimed at attending the Iranian president’s oath ceremony and meetings on mutual interest issues,” Ghani’s deputy spokesman Dawa Khan Minapal said.

A number of Afghan MPs have said the tensions between Iran and Afghanistan have increased following the establishment of the National Unity Government in 2014.

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News Story: US Accuses Iran of Destabilizing Afghanistan

By Samim Faramarz

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has accused Iran of attempting to destabilizing neighboring Afghanistan.

He also said that the US was working with its allies in the region to curb what he described as Iran’s expansionist efforts to destabilize areas such as Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.

"We come on to the scene and say you know, that agreement does not speak to a lot of the problems we have with Iran. So, I don't want people to think that's what defines either the relationship or policy with Iran is the JCPOA (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), Iran continues these efforts, is persistent in these efforts to exert their influence across the Middle East, and it is our intent working with our allies in the region to push back on Iran's expansionist efforts to destabilize areas, particularly Yemen, Iraq, Syria -- but we also see them in the areas of Afghanistan," he said.

He said that Iran’s expansionist intention was aimed to increase its influence in the Middle East and other parts of the world.

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News Story: Islamabad Asked To Change Its ‘Wrong Policies’ Toward Afghanistan

By Karim Amini

On the second day of the 4th Afghanistan-Central Asia Dialogue conference in Bamiyan, Bushra Gohar, the senior vice-president of Pakistan’s Awami National Party, said that insurgency would harm Pakistan if Islamabad did not change its “negative policies” towards Afghanistan.

She said Pakistan has always vowed to help secure peace and stability in Afghanistan, but added that Islamabad has not delivered on its promises in this respect. 

According to her, Pakistan’s wrong policy is the main reason which divides Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“Same as (a Pakistani leader Khan Abdul) Wali Khan says if we throw stones to other houses we will not receive flowers in return. If we let our soil to be used by insurgent groups among whom there is no good (terrorists) and bad (terrorists), they will use our soil (for their own interests),” she said.

She said peace with the Taliban would mean giving legitimacy to the group.

“They (Taliban) do not deserve to be talked to; they are those whose hands are red with the blood of innocent people. They (the Taliban) must be isolated,” she said in a response to question by TOLOnews reporter about talks with the Taliban.

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