Roundup: Iran Recognized for Role in Afghanistan Amid U.S. Concerns

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, March 01, 2002

Roundup: Iran Recognized for Role in Afghanistan Amid U.S. Concerns

Iran, Afghanistan's western neighbor, has won recognition and credit for its role in the reconstruction of war-shattered Afghanistan. European Union spoke highly of Iran's efforts in promoting the implementation of the Bonn Agreement and in assisting Karzai's government, expressing belief that Iran, being a major regional country, must play a key role in stabilizing and reconstructing Afghanistan.

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Recognition for Iran in reconstruction of Afghanistan

Iran, Afganistan's western neighbor, has won recognition and credit for its role in the reconstruction of war-shattered Afghanistan from parties that do not hold true of what the United States is saying about Iran.

Iran had been opposed to the bygone radical Taliban regime, helped make a deal at the Bonn Conference by persuading the alliance to compromise with other ethnic groups on the future Afghan government, and has pledged a whopping 560 million-U.S.-dollar aid package over five years for cash-strapped Afghanistan.

Iran's active role, however, has raised concerns from the U.S., a two-decade-old foe, which had warned Tehran to "keep its nose clean" when dealing with Afghanistan.

The Islamic republic has been warned against undermining Afghan interim leader Hamid Karzai's fledgling six-month administration and giving refuge to Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters as well as dissident Afghan warlords, moves considered to be destructive for Karzai.

Great efforts to prove Iran's clean record

Vehemently denying what the U.S. has accused of its "mischief" in its neighbor, Iran has been making great efforts to prove its clean record in Afghanistan.

A most powerful testimony came from Karzai, who has made it clear that "Iran has never interfered in Afghan internal affairs, and Tehran has always shown goodwill toward Afghanistan and its people."

Karzai, who just paid a three-day visit to Iran starting on Sunday to solicit Tehran's long-term support, granted Iran as the first country to participate in Afghan reconstruction.

The interim Afghan leader, who could not wait to express appreciation for Iran's past and current aid to the Afghan people and promote bilateral ties, said that he really needs a hand from Iran for revitalizing the war-battered economy and bringing peace and stability to the region.

Meanwhile, Karzai's Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah said in Tehran that Iran's participation in Afghanistan's reconstruction is "not harmful," the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) has reported.

Iran rejecting US's charges

In a related development, Iran's state-run television has quoted Afghan Interior Minister Yunus Qanooni as rejecting the U.S. charges against Iran by saying that Washington "has not provided any evidence to back up its claims."

Comments from Afghan cabinet members on Iran's role are considered as what Tehran badly needs to dispel U.S. accusations that Iran is meddling in Afghan internal affairs.

Iran itself has been crying foul over being wronged by the U.S., stressing that its commitment to aid Afghanistan, a country it shares religious, cultural and linguistic commonality, is for mutual good.

Iranian reformist President Mohammad Khatami has rejected the U.S. charges by saying that "Iran from the very beginning has recognized the government of Afghanistan," while pledging to continue rendering help to Afghanistan "without even thinking of interfering in the country."

While admitting that terrorists could have slipped into Iran through the long uncontrollable border, Iran has categorically denied any official complicity.

In a gesture to show that it is not trying to derail the rehabilitation and undermine the fragile post-Taliban government in its neighbor, Iran has closed the office of dissident Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who has left Iran for an unknown destination, IRNA has reported.

Iran has also stepped up efforts to reconstruct the conflict-torn Afghanistan by setting up a special office, headed by the First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, to deal with the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Praise for Iran's efforts

Iran's endeavors have won applause from the European Union (EU) with its special envoy for Afghanistan Klaus Peter Kleiber commenting that reconstruction of Afghanistan without Iran's participation will be "impractical."

During last week's visit to Iran, the EU envoy lauded Iran's role in helping restoring peace and tranquility to Afghanistan and hosting Afghan refugees.

Kleiber spoke highly of Iran's efforts in promoting the implementation of the Bonn Agreement and in assisting Karzai's government, expressing belief that Iran, being a major regional country, must play a key role in stabilizing and reconstructing Afghanistan.

Termed by Karzai as a "brotherly and friendly neighbor," Iran has voiced full readiness to participation in Afghanistan's reconstruction amid strong incentives for its own benefits.

Afghanistan is viewed as a huge market for Iranian businessmen who are looking for commercial opportunities.

Iran also hopes that it can help Afghan farmers replace poppy cultivation with valuable cash crops, and thus rid the region of the dangerous narcotics trade.

Afghanistan Government Praises Iran's Assistance in Reconstruction

The head of interim government of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai said Sunday in Tehran that Iran is a friendly and brotherly neighbor of Afghanistan.

After meeting with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, Karzai told reporters that Afghanistan has full confidence in Iran's role in helping Afghan people, both before and after the war.

Karzai said Iran has contributed a lot in helping Afghan nation fight Taliban regime, terrorism as well as resist foreign invasions, noting that Iran's assistance had virtually rescued Afghan people from very dangerous situation. >>details

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