Iran Parliament Center Blames Insecurity in Afghanistan on US Interference
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A new report by Iranian Parliament's Research Center blames the US meddling in Afghanistan's political and security arrangements as one of the main factors that have compromised security and doomed the peace talks there.
“Iran believes US interference in political and security arrangements in Afghanistan has been one of the major factors leading to reduction of security indices and aggravation of internal conflicts in Afghanistan. ... and as such this player cannot assume a constructive role in initiatives aimed at achieving peace in that country,” reads part of a report by the Iranian Parliament’s Research Center, published on Tuesday.
“Strengthening the foundations of peace and stability in Afghanistan is both in line with the ideological viewpoints of the Islamic Republic of Iran and also serves our country’s interests in terms of realpolitik,” the authors of the report emphasized.
Meanwhile, due to Iran’s special regional status and significance, any move and initiative aimed at strengthening the foundations of peace and stability in Afghanistan requires its effective participation, and that Iran's participation in the process of peace talks in Afghanistan is a must, the report said.
"Naturally these talks should be Afghan-Afgan ones and not in the form of direct talks between the US and the Taliban.Iran considers the central government of Afghanistan to be the main player of this process and not the US, so any process which is dominated by the US cannot ensure sustainable peace in Afghanistan," read another section of the report.
The US-led occupation of Afghanistan in 2001, which was carried with the aim of removing the Taliban from power and fighting insecurity, has been a failure as the US is now calling for direct talks with the Taliban and the security situation in Afghanistan is in a far worse shape than it was 12 years ago.
Foreign combat forces are set to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of 2014, as the US-led forces have gradually been handing over responsibility for security to their Afghan counterparts, who now lead about 90% of all security operations.
But the scale and scope of a residual force which is required to train Afghan troops in the coming years is still being negotiated.
