State news agency IRNA said both Presidents discussed with their Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad “ways of battling terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking.”
According to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, the event has brought together senior officials from at least 60 countries, and representatives from several international organizations including the UN. It aimed at increasing international convergence and coordination in fighting terrorism and with the slogan of "World without Terrorism".
The topics discussed in the two-day summit include various aspects of fighting terrorism, reasons behind the increasing trend of terrorist activities in the world, challenges and obstacles in the way of fighting terrorism, and enhancing appropriate counter-terrorism means and strategies on bilateral, regional and international levels.
The tripartite summit was held amid announcements by the United States that it will draw down by 33,000 its contingent of 99,000 troops in Afghanistan by the end of summer 2012.
Several hundred French soldiers have also been recalled from the country recently.
The United Kingdom and Germany, which have the largest presence in Afghanistan after the United States, have also declared their intention to reduce their contingent by the end of the year.
Iran has always been hostile to the presence of NATO troops in neighbouring Afghanistan, saying this strengthened terrorist groups such as Taliban and Al-Qaeda more than it weakened them.
Tehran itself suffers from the activities of armed Sunni Muslim group Jundallah around its border with Pakistan and Afghanistan. Jundallah is on the United States’ list of outlawed terrorist groups.
Source: IRNA; Fars; Khaleej Times
