"The Islamic Republic of Iran's role in the establishment of security in Afghanistan is significant and considering the existing problems in Afghanistan, Iran is needed to present an effective and comprehensive strategy (for solving them)," Mir Ahmad Jouyandeh told FNA on Wednesday.
Ahmadinejad arrived in Kabul on Wednesday morning and was welcomed by his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai at the presidential palace.
Iran has always urged a regional approach to solve the problems in Afghanistan and called on the Afghan government to pave the way for the withdrawal of alien forces from the country.
"If regional states and the neighboring countries of Afghanistan truly cooperate with Afghanistan in establishing stability and annihilating the bases and sources of terrorism, there will be no need for the presence of foreign forces in the country," Jouyandeh stressed.
Noting that Iran stands among the few countries which have played active roles in Afghanistan's reconstruction, he expressed the hope that these aids would increase following Ahmadinejad's visit.
Earlier last week, visiting Afghan Vice-Speaker Amanollah Peiman in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had viewed Iran's role in Afghanistan's developments as "positive" and "useful", and stressed that Kabul would never allow any third country to pose a threat to the Islamic Republic through the Afghan borders.
Iran blames the US and it allies for increased drug production and insecurity in Afghanistan ever since the US-led invasion of the country in 2001. The Iranian police officials maintain that drug production in Afghanistan has undergone a 40-fold increase in the last 8 years.
While Afghanistan produced only 185 tons of opium per year under the Taliban, according to UN statistics, since the US-led invasion, drug production has surged to 3,400 tons annually. In 2007, the opium trade reached an estimated all-time production high of 8,200 tons.
Afghan and Western officials blame Washington and NATO for the change, saying the allies have "overlooked" the drug problem for the seven years since the invasion of the country.
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