On Tuesday March 30, foreign ministers of Tajikistan (Sirojiddin Muhriddin), Iran (Mohammad Javad Zarif) and Afghanistan (Mohammad Hanif Atmar) held a trilateral meeting in Dushanbe on sidelines of the 9th Ministerial Meeting of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process. 

According to the Tajik MFA information department, the sides discussed cooperation between their countries in expanding political, economic and cultural cooperation as well as in providing regional security, combating drug trafficking.

They, in particular, discussed trilateral cooperation in energy and transportation sectors as well as training of specialists for various economic sectors of Afghanistan.

According to IRNA, Zarif noted that Iran is ready to cooperate with Afghanistan and Tajikistan within the framework of an operational program, stressing that the cooperation can have a role in the creation of convergence and stability in the region.

Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin reportedly expressed respect for rich Iranian culture, adding that the cultural commonalities of Iran, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan are a high example of convergence in the region.

He also suggested that joint Navrouz programs be held with the participation of the three countries.

During the meeting, the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Hanif Atmar reportedly expressed readiness to pursue cultural, economic, and political cooperation among the three countries based on an operational roadmap.