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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called for the formation of a quadrilateral front by Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Pakistan to counter terrorism and extremism in the region. |
During a Thursday meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, and Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain on the sidelines of the 5th International Nowruz Festival in the Afghan capital, Kabul, Rohani called for joint action by the four countries to tackle the issue of terrorism.
The Iranian president said with regard to establishment of security “it is necessary to prepare a comprehensive plan for countering extremism and violence in the region and strictly prevent the flow of financial support and arms to extremist, terrorist and violence-seeking groups.”
Rouhani also warned that any negligence in countering terrorism will negatively affect the relations among the regional countries.
The Iranian president also called for the expansion of cultural and economic ties among the four countries.
The Pakistani president, for his part, commented on the killing of one of the five abducted Iranian border guards condemning the fatal incident.
He said the terrorists who perpetrated the act are the enemies of both Iran and Pakistan and they seek to harm Tehran-Islamabad relations.
On March 23, the Jaish-ul-Adl terrorist group, which has claimed responsibility for the February 6 abduction of the five Iranian border guards in Jakigour region in Iran’s Sistan-and-Baluchestan Province, claimed that it has killed one of the hostages.
During the meeting, the Tajik president proposed a biennial cooperation meeting among the four countries and their mutual collaborations for countering terrorism, extremism and smuggling.
The Afghan president also described extremism and terrorism as major challenges facing the region and called for a collective effort against these issues.