Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

US Not in Afghanistan to Fight Terrorism: Iran

US Not in  Afghanistan  to Fight  Terrorism: Iran

TEHRAN - A senior Iranian official says US presence in Afghanistan is aimed at controlling Russia and China, harassing Pakistan and expanding American influence in Central Asia.
"The Americans came to the country with the aim of controlling Russia and China, harassing Pakistan, expanding its influence in the Central Asia and exploiting Afghanistan's rich resources," Head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry's General Directorate for Afghanistan's Affairs Mohsen Pakaein said on Saturday.

"The US has not come to Afghanistan to fight terrorism… building highways, runways for airplanes and importing modern electronic equipment as well as building military bases is not the way to fight terrorism in Afghanistan," Pakaein added.

The Iranian official said the US military presence in Afghanistan is only a pretext to exploit the country's natural resources.
"If the US wanted to fight terrorism, why did it negotiate with the Taliban in Qatar and [why does it] seek to free Taliban prisoners?"

Top US officials have reportedly held several rounds of secret talks with the Taliban as part of Washington's strategy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

Last month, the Taliban confirmed reaching a preliminary agreement with Washington to set up a liaison office in Qatar. Washington has so far maintained secrecy about the talks and countries from where the Taliban are heading to Qatar.

The US-led invasion of Afghanistan took place in 2001. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity continues to rise across the country despite the presence of thousands of US-led troops there. (MYA/HGH/IS)