Iran says more troops in Afghanistan "ineffective"

THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Iran said on Tuesday any increase in foreign troops in Afghanistan will 'prove ineffective' but promised at an international conference to help fight drugs trafficking from the country.

"The presence of foreign forces has not improved things in the country and it seems that an increase in the number of foreign forces will prove ineffective too," said Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Mehdi Akhoundzadeh in prepared remarks to be delivered at the conference in the Netherlands.

At the start of a U.N.-backed conference to reignite efforts to stabilise the country, Akhoundzadeh added that Iran was 'fully prepared' to help with projects aimed at fighting drug trafficking and in plans to develop and rebuild Afghanistan.

(Reporting by Sue Pleming; editing by Reed Stevenson)