President Ashraf Ghani believes enhanced cooperation with Iran would serve his country's national interests, hoping the neighbour would help Afghanistan restore security.

Afghanistan was willing to step up cooperation with Tehran on combating drug smuggling, Ghani said at a meeting with his Iranian counterpart on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Qingdao.
Hassan Rouhani and Ghani agreed on the expansion of bilateral political and economic relations. The Iranian leader said a stable Afghanistan was a central to regional security and development.
"Iran will spare no effort to help establish sustainable peace and fight terrorism in Afghanistan," Rouhani was quoted as saying by IRNA.
The two nations shared a common culture and trade interests, he said, adding Iran was committed to boosting relations with neighbours, particularly Afghanistan.
He also hailed Ghani’s proposal of a ceasefire with the Taliban and hoped that intra-Afghan talks would lead to the promotion of stability in Afghanistan.