ALI KHAMENEH’I EXPRESSED HIS OPPOSITION TO THE AFGHAN INTERIM GOVERNMENT
TEHRAN 16 Dec. (IPS) Iran expressed Sunday its opposition to the agreements reached in Bonn, Germany, by various Afghan groups and also called for the end to the presence of foreign forces in that nation.
Receiving the government, heads of the three powers as well as
high ranking Iranian civilian, clerical and military dignitaries and envoys of
Islamic nation to Tehran, Ayatollah Ali Khameneh’i, the leader of the
Islamic Republic said big powers' efforts to influence the Afghan government as
well as their presence in the war-torn is harming the peace and harmony in
Afghanistan.
The leader of the Iranian clerical regime made the statement few hours after in Kabol, the US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had met with Mr. Hamid Karzai, the Pashtoon tribal leader who had been appointed as interim Prime Minister by the participants at Bonn meeting.
Mr. Khamenehe’i, who has the upper hand in Iranian foreign policy, expressed his opposition to the UN supervised Bonn decisions even though the Foreign Ministry has accepted them and promised collaboration.
However, Analysts noted that while Pakistan has already established close contacts and communication with the interim government of Afghanistan, no high-ranking Iranian official has acknowledged Mr. Karzai and his cabinet except Mr. Kamal Kharrazi, the Foreign Minister.
"The presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan and their persistent efforts to influence the Afghan government not only shatters the calm in that nation but also violates the interests of the country", Mr. Khameneh’I said, quoted by the official news agency IRNA.
Mr. Khameneh’i’s anger with the presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan has its roots to his staunch anti-Americanism in the one hand and his paranoid fear of "plots" hatched by the US and Israel to destabilize the Islamic Republic and replace it with a monarchy, a scheme, in his opinion, the Americans are implementing in Afghanistan with the return of former Afghan King Mohammad Zaher Shah.
Hence his opposition to "those who have lived in foreign countries during years of Afghan people hardship" to be part of the interim Administration.
This against the fact that Afghans from inside hold most of the 28 portfolios, including all key posts, distributed in Bonn, while a portion, made of women and some very technical jobs that needs international experience, have gone to foreign-based Afghan personalities.
"Not only the Afghan government should be formed free from any foreign influence, but also those residing in Europe or other countries during years of the Afghan people's hardship and those who have not closely touched the suffering of the Afghan people should not assume responsibility in the country", the lamed Iranian leader said.
Mr. Khameneh’i, who’s opinion about the West, the United States and Israel as very similar to those of Mr. Osama Ben Laden, the Saudi national American believe is behind the 11 September suicide operations in the United States and Mollah Mohammad Omar, the Supreme Leader of the defeated Taleban said determination of their fate by the Afghan people and an end to influence of foreigners in Afghanistan are the only way of eliminating hardship and suffering of the Afghan people, according to IRNA. ENDS KHAMENEH’I AFQAN GOVERNMENT 161201