Iran Blames West for Deteriorating Security Conditions in Afghanistan

TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior Iranian diplomat took the western powers responsible for growing insecurities in Afghanistan, and warned that the deteriorating security conditions in the country will inflict irreparable damage on the Afghan people and government.
"On one hand, westerners claim that they have established security, and on the other hand great Jihadi leaders are killed," Iranian Ambassador to Kabul Fada Hossein Maleki said on Tuesday, addressing the audience at the Iran-Afghanistan Joint Culture-Friendship Exhibition in Kabul.

He reminded the Jihadi leaders' outstanding role in Afghanistan's campaign against terrorism, and said their death incurs a heavy loss on the country.

He stressed that there are abundant ambiguities about the performance of the western forces in Afghanistan, and said, "The best way to establish security in Afghanistan is controlling the country by the Afghan security forces."

Maleki reiterated that recent events like what happened after the escape of inmates from Kandahar prison indicate that there are hidden hands which seek to create insecurity and weaken the government and political leaders in Afghanistan.

Officials said on Tuesday that a leading politician from what is normally one of Afghanistan's most stable regions has been killed by unknown assailants.

The body of Jawad Zuhaak, the head of the provincial council in central Bamiyan province, was found in neighboring Parwan province on Tuesday, a senior hospital official said.

Zuhaak and his bodyguard had been kidnapped in the Sia Gerd province of Parwan on Friday, police said.

Khwaja Mohammad, the head of the Parwan hospital, said Zuhaak had been shot in the face.