Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Parliament, met with his Tajik counterpart, Rustam Emomali, in Tehran and expressed concerns over ISIS's activities in Afghanistan.
Ghalibaf attributed the recent explosions in Kerman, Iran, to ISIS's presence in Afghanistan, labeling ISIS Khorasan as a threat to neighboring countries.
During the meeting on Monday, Ghalibaf did not elaborate on who he believes are the "founders of ISIS" in the region. He emphasized the need for extensive cooperation to combat terrorism and trafficking of weapons and narcotics in Afghanistan.
According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Emomali also described the situation in Afghanistan as worrying for both Iran and Tajikistan. He called for expanded relations between Tajikistan and Iran, stressing the importance of continuous communication and regular exchange of ideas and intelligence between relevant agencies to counter terror and drug trafficking.
Tajik officials have repeatedly warned over the past two years about active terrorist groups in Afghanistan and their attempts to infiltrate other countries.
Emomali also noted that the current situation in Afghanistan negatively impacts various segments of Afghan society, including women and children. He stated that an inclusive government representing all political and ethnic groups should be formed in Afghanistan.
Following the recent explosions in Kerman, Iran's Ministry of Intelligence announced that one of the suicide bombers in the province was a Tajik national.
