Iran-Afghanistan relations have not been influenced by any third party and this will be the case in the future as well due to an existing agreement between the two countries
Due to the importance of the issue and to ensure that the public has a better understanding of the general atmosphere in Afghanistan, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, New Delhi, wants to put forth some points in response to an article titled, “Iran nuclear deal crisis” (June 11) by Hamid Tahzeeb.
i) The Islamic Republic of Iran has always supported the people of Afghan and has played the most constructive role in Afghanistan in particular since the Bonn Conference in 2001. Accordingly, Iran's policy towards Afghanistan has always been and still is to ensure peace and stability and to achieve sustainable development in this country.
ii) Iran was the first country that began helping Afghanistan in the reconstruction of its ruined infrastructure and economy. So far, it has allocated and provided hundreds of millions of dollars as grants and loans for implementation of development projects as well as technical and vocational training services in Afghanistan.
iii) Construction of the Khaf-Herat Railway, which connects Afghanistan's railway network to Iran, Central Asia and Europe, is another example of Iran's assistance to development in Afghanistan.
iv) Key development projects including but not limited to electricity supply to border villages in Herat and Nimrooz, road construction of the Dogharoun-Herat road, Mahirood-Farah as well as the completion of the Herat Highway to Meymaneh in the north all have been carried out by Iranian contractors.
v) In addition, Iran has been hosting millions of Afghan refugees for almost four decades. Presently, 11 per cent of the total population of Afghanistan dwells in Iran. This has been a great source of income and repatriation of millions of dollars to their own country annually.
vi) Also, Iran is bearing a huge spending annually for the education of more than 3,80,000 Afghan refugee children in Iranian schools and 17,000 Afghans in universities at different levels. Importantly, 77,000 undocumented Afghan children were allowed to enroll in Iranian public schools based on a decree issued by Iran's Supreme leader. To cite an example, three Afghan students, including a girl, have attained top ranks in Iran's highly-competitive nationwide university entrance exam for a Master's degree in the current year.
vii) With the construction of the Chabahar port, Iran strived to give Afghanistan, a land locked country, full access to open seas and international waters. To facilitate such access, Iran provided Afghanistan's public and private sectors with sufficient facilities and preferential treatment to utilise this port. The first outcome of this policy was the shipment of Indian wheat cargos to Afghanistan just a few months ago.
viii) Iran has played a key role in defeating the terrorist group, Islamic State (IS). Unfortunately, after losing its base in West Asia, the IS has established a suspicious foothold in eastern and northern Afghanistan despite a heavy presence of the US and other foreign troops and has increased its terror attacks in recent months.
ix) In Iran's security strategy, there is no interpretation of connecting with terrorist entities dividing them into good and bad terrorists. Therefore, any relationship with the Taliban is against the security and the national interest of Iran, the region and the outside region. There is a strong belief that we share a number of threats and interests with Afghanistan. Iran continuously seeks long lasting and comprehensive relations with the Central Government in Kabul.
x) Based on the request of the Government of Afghanistan and in order to provide intelligence coverage, maintain security of the eastern borders of Iran and insecurity prevailing on the common border due to the weakness of foreign and Afghan forces, the Islamic republic of Iran has initiated limited contact with the Taliban faction. Tehran has used its limited contact to encourage and convince the Taliban to bring them to the negotiation table. It is crystal clear that almost all key players on the ground have their own relations with the Taliban aimed at encouraging them to join the peace process.
xi) Iran has been participating in Afghanistan-related international conferences at the highest level, including the Kabul Peace Process. Tehran recently backed a temporary ceasefire announced by the President of Afghanistan and encouraged both sides to avoid violence and try to resolve problems through dialogue.
xii) Iran-Afghanistan relations have not been influenced by any third party and this will be the case in the future due to an existing agreement between the top officials of the two countries. Both sides are negotiating a strategic partnership through the establishment of five committees on different issues.
xiii) Iran and the Farah Province have 300 kilometers of common border, therefore, any sort of destabilisation or insecurity in Farah has a direct impact on Iranian security. Therefore, accusations claiming that Iran had a role in the Taliban attacks in the Province of Farah are totally delusional, unsubstantiated and unrealistic. The Government of Afghanistan has also dismissed these accusations.
xiv) On both sides of the war front in Syria, foreigner including Afghan nationals, Fatemiyoun have gone to Syria to fight IS terrorists on the basis of their own religious motives and personal initiative. It is bizzare that there is no reaction to the recruitment of Afghan citizens by the IS in West Asia.
xv) Fighting against terrorism, assisting restoration of peace and security, deterring the menace of drug cultivation and trafficking, housing refugees, and playing a constructive role in rebuilding Afghanistan are Iran's main priority as its immediate neighbour.
xvi) Iran remains committed to its undertakings and respects the Afghan sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity. Tehran values its cultural-historical ties with Kabul, has always supported peace, stability and security, and has been there to support its neighbour's socio-economic development. Nothing shall change this.
(The writer is Third Secretary , Press Division, Embassy of Iran)
