TEHRAN – Iran and Afghanistan announced on Sunday that they have agreed to share intelligence on campaign against border terrorism and drug trafficking.

The announcement was made as Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani visited Iran on Sunday.

Ashraf Ghani said Iran and Afghanistan enjoy age-old and multi-faceted relations, and should use such an opportunity to move the region away from the point of danger and direct it toward peace and stability.

The Afghan president made the remarks during a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani in Tehran on Sunday.

“Today, we are facing the serious threat of terrorism, and acts of barbarism. We are witnessing civilian casualties on the daily basis. There is a need for cooperation in order to address problems such as Daesh [terrorists],” the Afghan president noted.

During the press conference, Rouhani also said the trip of the Afghan president to Iran would open a new chapter in the two countries’ cooperation in domains of economy, energy, industries and mines, commerce, investment, transit, railroad, and development of Iran’s southern bays.

This way, he added, Afghanistan and Iran’s northern and eastern neighbors will get connected to international waters.

------- ‘Anti-drug campaign’

Rouhani said Iran and neighboring Afghanistan have agreed on intelligence and security cooperation as part of efforts to combat illicit drugs trafficking.

“Concerning the issue of narcotics, which is a menace beleaguering the region, Iran, and Afghanistan itself, we agreed to have intelligence and security cooperation to counter drug trafficking rings,” Rouhani said.

The Iranian president further noted that Tehran and Kabul have agreed to share intelligence on terrorism, violence and extremism in the region, including in Afghan regions bordering Iran, and conduct joint operations if need be.

------- ‘Mechanism must be sought for gradual return of Afghan refugees’

Rouhani told reporters that his talks with his Afghan counterpart also focused on the issue of Afghan refugees in Iran, stressing that an agreement was reached on the adoption of measures to register all Afghans now living in Iran, Press TV reported.

Ghani expressed his gratitude to the Iranian government and nation for hosting hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees, emphasizing that a mechanism must be sought for their gradual return to Afghanistan.

Rouhani and Ashraf Ghani signed two cooperation agreements between foreign and science ministries of the two countries.

Ghani also extended an invitation to his Iranian counterpart to pay an official visit to the Afghan capital.