Iran says unauthorized border crossings into the country by Afghan nationals should be stopped in order to prevent incidents along the border between the two countries.
If Afghans travel to Iran legally, border incidents can be prevented, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said during a meeting with Abdul Salam Azimi, the chief justice of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, IRIB reported on Saturday.

Salehi stated that the security of Iran and Afghanistan is intertwined, saying both nations are determined to maintain security and bilateral relations.

He urged Kabul to issue passports for Afghan nationals, adding that Iran would help facilitate the process by issuing visas and determining the status of their stay.

Salehi called for the implementation of bilateral agreements and expressed hope that the two countries could expand their cooperation in the future.

The Afghan chief justice said Iran has been hosting millions of Afghan nationals for more than three decades and thanked the Iranian government and nation for their hospitality.

Azimi emphasized the need to provide legal documents for Afghans sojourning to Iran and added that easing visa issuance procedures for Afghan nationals could help reduce unauthorized entries into Iran.

Thousands of undocumented Afghans cross into Iran every year in search of employment.

Over the past three decades, Iran has hosted many refugees from neighboring countries, especially Afghanistan, though it has received little international support.

The voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees from Iran has been slow in recent years due to the tenuous security situation and economic hardships in Afghanistan, which political analysts say is mainly a result of the US-led occupation of the country.

By Press TV

 

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