Visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani yesterday met here with his Tajik counterpart Sirojiddin Aslov.

According to the Tajik MFA information department, political consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries were also held in Dushanbe on February 16.

The two sides reportedly discussed ways for further expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.  They also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues being of mutual interest.

In a statement made after the consultations, the foreign ministers pointed to the necessity of further implementation of national and regional infrastructure, energy and economic development programs. 

They also noted that expansion of cross-border cooperation was an important factor for further expansion of all-round mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.  

The sides also confirmed their readiness to expand bilateral cooperation in addressing threats of terrorism, extremism, transnational crime, drug trafficking other challenges to international and regional security.

Tajik foreign minister reportedly stressed that Tajikistan would support Afghanistan’s admission to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).   

On the same day, Salahuddin Rabbani met with Shukurjon Zuhurov, the head of Tajikistan lower chamber (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament.      

In the course of the talks, Zuhurov noted that Tajikistan has always been strong advocate for the establishment of peace and stability in Afghanistan because peace on Afghan soil will provide stability in the whole region, Muhammadato Sultonov, a spokesman for the Majlisi Namoyandagon, told Asia-Plus in an interview. 

Tajik parliament speaker reportedly also appreciated Afghan foreign minister’s contribution to development of Tajik-Afghan relations.  

Zuhurov also noted that Burhanuddin Rabbani and Ahmad Shah Masoud had played a key role in promoting the establishment of peace and accord in Tajikistan, Sultonov said. 

Salahuddin Rabbani (born May 10, 1971) is an Afghan diplomat and politician who has been Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan since February 1, 2015.  He was Ambassador to Turkey from 2011 to 2012.  In April 2012, it was announced that he was to chair the Afghan High Peace Council in its negotiations with the Taliban. Salahuddin's father was Council chairman and Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani.

He was selected as leader of the Jamiat-e Islami political party after the assassination of his father.  On January 12, 2015, he was nominated by President Ashraf Ghani as Minister of Foreign Affairs, replacing Ahmad Moqbel Zarar.  He was confirmed by the Afghan Parliament on 28 January and was sworn in on February 1, 2015.