Foreign troops presence in Afghanistan escalates insecurity - Iranian interior minister

Visiting Iranian Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar Tuesday held talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on issues of mutual interests and latest regional developments, IRNA reported.

Mohammad Najjar also submitted the warm greetings of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to his Afghan counterpart.

He also described Afghanistan as friendly and brotherly country which shares long border with Iran.

The two sides called for establishment of a joint committee to take counter-terrorism measures and fight against drug trafficking, organized crimes and legalizing the presence of Afghan citizens in Iran.

Referring to the presence of over 300,000 Afghan students in Iran, Mohammad Najjar cited Tehran's view point toward Afghans as positive.

He also invited Karzai to participate in Nowruz ceremony in Iran.

Iranian interior minister also expressed sympathy with the Afghan president over "massacre" of children by NATO troops in Afghanistan.

Nine Afghan children died in the south-eastern province of Kunar on Tuesday in a NATO airstrike after a military base came under attacks by suspected Taliban forces.

Referring to the role of foreign troops in the region, Mohammad Najjar said the presence of those troops have escalated insecurity and caused 40-percent increase in drug production.

Karzai, for his part, said the Afghan government and nation never forget Iran's assistance, adding Tehran helps restore peace and stability to Afghanistan.

He said that the Afghan nation always appreciates the Iranian government and nation for supporting them in hard times, adding Afghanistan should be reconstructed by its nation.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Najjar also met with his Afghan counterpart Bismillah Mohammadi and First-Vice President Marshall Mohamamd Ghasim Fahim.

The Iranian interior minister heading a high ranking delegation arrived in Kabul for two-day visit on Tuesday evening.