TEHRAN (FNA)- A former Iranian ambassador lashed out at the US meddling in the regional countries’ affairs, specially Afghanistan, and said that the Afghan people should decide their own fate.


“The Iranian government believes that Afghanistan's affairs should be ceded to itself and if a decision is going to be taken about the talks (with Taliban), it should take place according to the mechanisms envisaged in that country’s constitution and the local and regional capacities should be used, something which has not been done so far,” Iran’s former Ambassador to Pakistan Mohammad Ibrahim Taheriyan told FNA on Wednesday.

Taheriyan pointed to a recent meeting of Pakistan’s main political parties presided by Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and attended by Pakistani General Ashraf Kayani as well as that country’s intelligence (ISI) chief General Zahiroleslam, and said, “During that meeting the participants agreed to prioritize holding talks with extremist elements.”

The former Iranian envoy stressed that the meeting of Pakistan’s main political parties is somehow related to the US efforts to resume talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban in Afghanistan.

“Iran is ready to use its capacities for the development and (restoration of) security in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” Taheriyan said.

Earlier this month, the Iranian president expressed the hope that the regional nations and governments, specially Afghanistan, could decide the fate of their own countries, and said, “The presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan and other countries sets the stage for extremism in the region.”

Iran has on numerous occasions asked for a withdrawal of foreign forces from the region, describing it as the only way to restore peace and tranquility in this part of the world.

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington's so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but the country is still grappling with insecurity.

Many civilians have also lost their lives in the US-led operations in various parts of Afghanistan over the past decade, with Afghans becoming increasingly outraged at the seemingly endless number of the deadly assaults.

By Fars News Agency

 

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