Article content

NEW DELHI — India and Iran said Saturday that they would step up co-operation in combatting extremism, terrorism and drug trafficking in Afghanistan in an effort to restore peace and stability to the war-wracked country.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the two countries would also make efforts to improve energy security and regional connectivity to reach landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asia by developing Iran’s Chabahar Port and road and rail routes.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or India, Iran to step up co-operation on Afghanistan Back to video

“We both will work for restoring peace, stability, prosperity and a pluralistic system in Afghanistan,” Modi said after holding talks with Rouhani in New Delhi on the final day of Rouhani’s three-day visit.

Rouhani said Iran and India “are prepared for joint ventures in gas and petroleum sectors.” He sought India’s investment in these areas, as well as in the industrial and mining sectors.

He said Afghanistan must be “a vivacious and secure country,” adding that Iran and India would also co-operate in dealing with the situations in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Iran is a key stakeholder in the future of those nations.