Iranian envoy to the UN said there is an urgent need that the foreign forces leave Afghanistan, while at the same time, strengthening of the capacity of Afghan national Army and national police should seriously be continued. Irans Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Eshagh Alehabib made the statement on 'The Situation in Afghanistan' before the UN Security Council. He started his speech by expressing gratitude to Staffan de Mistura, Special Representative and the Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and other UN staff in that Mission for their firm commitment and valuable dedication to strengthening peace and stability in Afghanistan. The central role of the United Nations in coordinating international efforts in Afghanistan is of paramount importance and enjoys our full support, he added. He then expressed his satisfaction with the progress achieved by the government and the people in Afghanistan on political scene including the recently Afghan-led and Afghan-managed successful Parliamentary election. Nine years have passed since American and NATO forces entered Afghanistan with the aim of establishing peace, security and reconstructing the country, the Iranian envoy said, adding that the main justification of the military excursion was, of course, eliminating the threat of terrorism. What is clear is that the suffering of Afghan civilians not only hasn't diminished, it is even on the rise, Alehabib reiterated. As the result of the foreign military operations in Afghanistan, we should stress that not only the threat of terrorism has not been curbed, rather it has spread its evil effects on other parts in the region including my own country. The recent suicide bombing at a mosque in Chabahar, on December 15, left scores of people dead and many more injured, he said, stressing that Tehran considers this abhorrent terrorist act the result of the wrong policy of deployment of military foreign forces in the region which has exacerbated the tension and violence in the neighboring countries. It is now clear that the hearts and minds of the Afghan people, who have undergone many hardships and so much suffering in recent decades, cannot be won by relying on the operations of an increased number of foreign military forces, he noted. Instead of dispatching more troops and increasing the number of private contractors, there is an urgent need that the foreign forces leave Afghanistan, while at the same time, strengthening of the capacity of Afghan National Army and National Police should seriously be continued with a view to enable them to take charge of security in Afghanistan and handing over the control and management of Afghani affairs to the people and government of Afghanistan. Referring to the narcotic drugs problem as one of the most serious challenges that Afghanistan is facing, he said this menace has hindered the advancement of the country towards development and has put the security of Afghanistan along with that of the region in real danger. Moreover, narcotic drugs, as the financial source of terrorism in Afghanistan, has worked as a breeding ground for terrorists, extremists and illegal groups who attempt to destabilize the Afghan government, he noted. For decades, Iran has been at the forefront of a full scale war against narcotic drugs smuggling, the envoy said, adding that thousands of Iranian law enforcement personnel have lost their lives or injured, and billions of dollars have been spent to combat drug traffickers. In the area of regional cooperation, the neighboring countries of Afghanistan share critical interests in Afghanistans security and long-term stability and therefore should play a more active role in promoting Afghanistans socio-economic development, Alehabib said, adding, In recent years, we have undertaken a number of developmental projects aimed at rebuilding and reconstructing the country, focusing on infrastructure including road and rail way development. Tehran is willing to continue to hold its well-established joint meetings with the representatives of neighboring countries of Afghanistan to elaborate more concrete measures necessary for strengthening regional framework in helping Afghanistan in developmental projects and security issues, the envoy reiterated.