Kathmandu, August 7. Newly-elected President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi has made his remarks that he welcomes New Delhi’s role in ensuring security in the region. He said so to India’s foreign affairs minister S Jaishankar.

This was the second meeting between the leaders of the two nations in one month. Jaishankar had met Raisi, then president-elect, on July 7 during a stopover at the Iranian capital on his way to Russia.

In the meeting held on Friday, the importance of cooperation was stressed upon along with ensuring peace and stability in the region.

Raisi said, “Iran and India can play a constructive and useful role in ensuring security in the region, especially Afghanistan, and Tehran welcomes New Delhi’s role in the establishment of security in Afghanistan”

He added, “By moving in the direction of a joint cooperation programme, we can take steps to bring about different conditions at the level of relations between the two countries in the interests of the two nations”

Jaishankar welcomed the remarks of Raisi and pledged to put forward the message of cooperation to PM Modi.

India has been a major stakeholder in the peace and stability of Afghanistan. It has already invested nearly USD 3 billion in aid and reconstruction activities in the war-torn country.

India holds the presidency of UNSC and the discussion of Afghanistan came days after Afghan foreign minister Mohammed Hanif Atmar spoke to his Indian counterpart Jaishankar on the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan. Taliban has been making rapid advances across the country since the US started withdrawing troops since May 1.