US-Afghanistan Strategic Treaty Threatens Regional Security: Envoy

Kabul, May 23, IRNA – US, Afghanistan Strategic Treaty threatens regional peace and security, Iran's Ambassador to Afghanistan Abolfazl Zohrevand said here on Tuesday. Zohrevand made the remarks in an interview with IRNA. The official underlined that since unrest in Afghanistan is the cause of most of regional problems, Tehran supports security and peace in this country. “US, Afghanistan Strategic Treaty is not a bilateral treaty and could affect all regional countries; the implementation of this treaty which extends the presence of foreign forces, would increase extremism, drug-trafficking and other organized crimes in the region,” Iranian ambassador to Kabul underscored. “The current levels of cooperation between Iran and Afghanistan are high and Tehran’s support for Afghan nation is endless; the joint culture and identity of Iranian and Afghan nation makes the prospect of bilateral ties very brilliant; Iran is committed to double the amount of current 2-dlr billion trade exchange between the two countries in near future.” Zohrevand noted Iran’s support for Afghan students, adding that more than 8000 Afghan university students and 350,000 Afghan students are studying in Iran and in the meantime, 20,000 post-graduate Afghans are members of Iran-based Post-Graduate Afghan Association. “Iranian universities have branches in Kabul and 242 Afghan students have been given education scholarships this year to study in Iran.” “Iran is helping the boost of healthcare in Afghanistan by building medical centers, there; Tehran has programs to ease the traffic of Afghan economic activists as well as pilgrims and common Afghans; IR Iran has activated four consular offices beside its Kabul embassy to serve Afghans and it is to increase the weekly flights between the two countries.” Afghanistan and Iran share an extensive history. Afghan-Iranian relations have improved since the fall of the Taliban and Iran has played an active role in Afghanistan’s reconstruction. Afghanistan shares a long and intertwined history with Iran. There are also deep ties in language, its people and culture. As an eastern dialect of Persian, Dari is the dominant language in Afghanistan. Iran had supported the cause of the Afghan resistance against the Soviet occupation. Iran is also strongly against the American military presence in Afghanistan. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), about 1 million Afghan refugees live in Iran. Since late 2001, the new Afghan government under President Hamid Karzai has engaged in cordial relations with Iran. Afghanistan has an embassy in Tehran and a consulate in Mashad. Trade between the two nations has increased dramatically since the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001. Iran and Afghanistan plan on building a new rail line connecting Mashhad to Herat and eventually to Kabul. In 2009 Iran was the fourth largest investor in Afghanistan, which is mainly in the construction of roads and bridges as well as agriculture and health care. Iran exports oil products, cement, construction material, carpets, home appliances, and detergents and imports nuts, carpets, agricultural products as well as handicrafts from Afghanistan. Afghanistan imports 90 percent of its needs, except agricultural products./end