The Islamic Emirate will talk to Indian officials over the issue of visas for dried fruit traders, Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs Maulawi Abdul Kabir said on Wednesday.

In his meeting with the traders, the official also called on neighboring countries to stop creating hurdles for Afghan traders, and rather provide necessary facilities for the growth of bilateral trade.

He said that land would be allocated for dried fruit traders in accordance with the policy of the Islamic Emirate.

Earlier in the meeting, the traders called for help with the India visa process.

They also said that they are suffering from high taxes that Pakistan has imposed on Afghan dried fruits.

Russian foreign ministry said on Wednesday the priority of the sixth Moscow Format meeting was to facilitate the process of national reconciliation and expand cooperation between the regional countries and Kabul in the political, economic, counter-terrorism and anti-drug fields.

The meeting is scheduled to be held in Moscow on Friday with the participation of representatives of Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a news conference that the main part of the meeting will be held behind closed doors and will be addressed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

She added that Lavrov will also meet with Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Amir Khan Muttaqi, on the sidelines of the meeting and discuss important issues related to bilateral cooperation.

Muttaqi left for Russia on Wednesday.

An Iranian official has said Afghan carpets are seriously affecting the Iranian carpet market.

Morteza Haji Aghamiri, chairman of the Carpet, Art and Handicrafts Commission of Iran Chamber of Commerce, said at a meeting that the commission seeks to find a solution to prevent the smuggling of Afghan carpets to Iran, Mehr news agency reported.

Meanwhile, deputy of the Union of Iranian Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters, Hamid Chamanrokh, said that they had full information on carpet smuggling from origin to entry into Mashhad. He added that the goods enter Iran from the Taibad border and through a network of asphalted roads.

The deputy of the Carpet, Art and Handicrafts Commission also said at the meeting that in the past Indian carpets were used to be imported, and now it is Afghan carpets.