India, Iran, Afghanistan hold trilateral in Tehran

New Delhi, Sep 1 (PTI) Ways to combat terror,implementation of connectivity projects and a host of othercrucial issues were discussed at a trilateral meeting ofIndia, Iran and Afghanistan in Tehran. The Director-General level meeting, which took placeyesterday, is a follow up to the First Round of the trilateralmeeting between Afghanistan, India and Iran held in New Delhilast April. "In the meeting a wide range of issues of common interestwere discussed by the three parties including the recentdevelopments in the region and the trilateral political,economic, transit and cultural cooperation," External AffairsMinistry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. He said, discussing the situation in the region andAfghanistan, the three parties emphasised the need forregional cooperation to counter current and emerging threatsof terrorism and extremism. The meeting also deliberated upon various aspect of thethe trilateral agreement signed by the three countries in Mayin Tehran on development of transit routes to Afghanistanthrough the Chabahar port. The meeting agreed to have some specialized meetings andseminars for experts and representatives from trade andindustry so that their recommendations can be reviewed in thenext Meeting of the Director-Generals, which will be held inKabul. "The three parties also explored possible grounds forcooperation in the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process," saidSwarup. Asked about the coming US-India-Afghanistan meet, he saidIndia as an immediate neigbhour of Afghanistan, is astakeholder in peace and stability in that country. "The US is among the leading countries of the worldworking for the same objective. Therefore, it is natural thatwe consult each other and also Afghanistan on the currentsituation as well as the continued support that Afghanistanrequires from the international community," said Swarup. The Trilateral Dialogue was earlier held in 2012 and 2013at Joint Secretary level. The Dialogue may take place on the margins of the UNGeneral Assembly in September at similar official level. PTIMPBRG