Tehran, Iran – Iran and Afghanistan announced that their shared border will henceforth become a “front of friendship and brotherhood.”
The Iranian embassy in Kabul said in an official statement that the meeting was chaired by Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, and Noorullah Noori, the Taliban’s Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs, on the Afghan side. This came during a high-level meeting held in the Afghan capital, Kabul, between officials from both countries.
The embassy noted that the meeting took place in a “constructive and friendly atmosphere.” The two sides discussed ways to develop border cooperation and enhance direct diplomatic communication, stressing the need to hold regular meetings to address any issues related to the shared border areas.
Restoring border relations
The two sides agreed to resume the project to restore border markers between the two countries. This project had been suspended for more than seven years due to security and political tensions in the region.
Combating evasion
The two delegations also emphasized their shared commitment to combating smuggling, drug trafficking, and illegal border crossings. They considered security and economic cooperation between Tehran and Kabul to be a key factor in achieving stability in the border areas.
The border between the two countries is more than 900 kilometers long. It is one of the most sensitive points in the region due to the activity of drug smugglers and irregular migration, in addition to previous disputes over the sharing of the Helmand River’s waters.
According to observers, Iran is seeking to strengthen its relations with the Taliban government after years of tension, in an effort to ensure security on its eastern border. It also aims to open up prospects for economic and humanitarian cooperation.
