Iran-Afghan relationship suffers after US pact
9 May 2012 5:43 AM GMT
Relations between Afghanistan and Iran have been strained by Kabul's strategic pact with the United States, officials said on Tuesday, charging that Tehran has harassed Afghan diplomats in recent weeks.
And in parliament, lawmakers warned Iran to end its 'interference' in Afghanistan's internal affairs over the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed last week by President Hamid Karzai and US President Barack Obama.
Tehran's ambassador had urged some members of parliament not to vote for the deal, said Abdul Rahoof Ibrahimi, the speaker of the lower house, or Wolosi Jirga.
Afghan diplomats in the Iranian capital Tehran have been 'constantly intimidated' since the deal with the United States was signed, a senior government official said.
'They are being chased by Iranian security forces all over the place. Their movements have been restricted,' the official said, requesting anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. 'This is all to do with the (US-Afghan) strategic pact. They are unhappy,' the official said.
Foreign ministry spokesman Janan Mosazai acknowledged 'problems' faced by Afghan embassy staff in Tehran, saying his ministry was investigating the situation.
'The problem is not posing any danger to our (embassy) staff there,' Mosazai said, but refused to provide further details. He said his ministry was in talks with Tehran to solve the problem.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast publicly denounced the Afghan-US agreement at the weekend. 'Not only will the strategic pact not resolve Afghanistan's security problems, but it will intensify insecurity and instability in Afghanistan,' he said in a statement.
He described the pact as a source of 'concern' for Iran as 'the status of US military bases in Afghanistan is unclear and the security duties of US forces lack transparency'. The strategic partnership agreement covers relations between Washington and Kabul for 10 years after US troops pull out of the country in 2014, leaving the fight against Taliban Islamists to Afghan forces.
And in parliament, lawmakers warned Iran to end its 'interference' in Afghanistan's internal affairs over the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed last week by President Hamid Karzai and US President Barack Obama.
Tehran's ambassador had urged some members of parliament not to vote for the deal, said Abdul Rahoof Ibrahimi, the speaker of the lower house, or Wolosi Jirga.
Afghan diplomats in the Iranian capital Tehran have been 'constantly intimidated' since the deal with the United States was signed, a senior government official said.
'They are being chased by Iranian security forces all over the place. Their movements have been restricted,' the official said, requesting anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. 'This is all to do with the (US-Afghan) strategic pact. They are unhappy,' the official said.
Foreign ministry spokesman Janan Mosazai acknowledged 'problems' faced by Afghan embassy staff in Tehran, saying his ministry was investigating the situation.
'The problem is not posing any danger to our (embassy) staff there,' Mosazai said, but refused to provide further details. He said his ministry was in talks with Tehran to solve the problem.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast publicly denounced the Afghan-US agreement at the weekend. 'Not only will the strategic pact not resolve Afghanistan's security problems, but it will intensify insecurity and instability in Afghanistan,' he said in a statement.
He described the pact as a source of 'concern' for Iran as 'the status of US military bases in Afghanistan is unclear and the security duties of US forces lack transparency'. The strategic partnership agreement covers relations between Washington and Kabul for 10 years after US troops pull out of the country in 2014, leaving the fight against Taliban Islamists to Afghan forces.
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