Iran and Afghanistan Agree to Continue Talks on Consular Issues
Vahid Jalalzadeh, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary and Iranian Expatriates Affairs, who is visiting Kabul, says the fifth meeting of the Iran-Afghanistan Joint Consular Commission concluded with agreements on a number of issues, while discussions on the remaining matters will continue.
Speaking to Iranian media, Jalalzadeh said the two sides discussed trade, transportation, student affairs, border issues, border terminals and migrants, reaching agreement on many topics. He added that some issues require further consultations and decisions by relevant institutions in both countries.
Vahid Jalalzadeh said: “Some issues still require further discussions, and decisions on them depend on the views of the authorities in both countries. In some cases, the foreign ministries can decide directly, but in others, both sides need to consult and coordinate with the relevant institutions in their respective countries. It was agreed that this process will continue for the remaining issues.”
Jalalzadeh also announced that he had formally invited Mohammad Naeem, the Islamic Emirate’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Administrative and Financial Affairs, to visit Tehran, expressing hope that both sides would reach agreements on the remaining issues in the coming months.
He added: “I presented my official invitation to my counterpart, Dr. Mohammad Naeem, at Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and I hope he will visit Tehran in the coming months so that we can also reach good agreements on the remaining issues.”
Political analyst Najib-ur-Rahman Shamal said: “The exchange of delegations between Iran and Afghanistan will help address challenges facing Afghan migrants in Iran and improve the delivery of consular services.”
The visit comes after Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Islamic Emirate’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, and Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister, traveled to Iran on July 3, where they held separate meetings with Iran’s president and foreign minister to discuss bilateral ties and ways to expand cooperation.
