Thursday, November 28, 2019

Time for Afghan Groups to Knit Ranks against US Occupiers

By: Kayhan Int’l 

The pivotal position of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the region and beyond is an established fact, whether the chief intruder in this region of ours, that is, the US, likes it or not.
In other words, peace can neither prevail nor can it become durable, unless the US leaves the region or its occupation forces are driven out.
The instability stretching from Afghanistan in the East till the Levantine states in the West, and including the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula, is because of the illegal presence of American troops, or more properly the CENTCOM terrorists.
In such a situation, it is incumbent on the governments of regional countries, as well as the influential political groups to hold talks amongst themselves to try to resolve the outstanding issues.
Iran, in view of its strategic geographical location and its role as moderator in the face of American hooliganism, is ideally placed to help negotiations succeed.
As part of this policy, the Islamic Republic on Tuesday played host to a senior official of Afghanistan’s Taleban militia, Mullah Abdul-Ghani Baradar.
The Deputy Political Chief and Head of the Political Office of Taliban in Qatar, during his in-depth talks in Tehran with Foreign Minister, Dr. Mohammad Javad Zarif, discussed a wide variety of issues of mutual interest including the peaceful resolution of the Afghan crisis, as well as the problems facing Afghan refugees in Iran.
Abdul-Ghani Baradar, who is highly distrustful of the US, was of the opinion that there is no point in holding talks with his namesake and compatriot, President Ashraf Ghani, whom he regarded as an American appointee in Kabul, rather than an independent person.
Iran may not agree with such views, but nonetheless, as Dr. Zarif pointed out to Mullah Baradar, the Islamic Republic is willing to support dialogue between all Afghan parties with the participation of the Afghan government.
Iran’s position on the resolution of the chronic crisis of Afghanistan is clear. The US should leave and since it is an occupying power that has destroyed this Muslim country, it has no legitimate excuse to prolong its unwarranted presence.
In other words, as long as Afghan remains under American occupation, and as long as Washington meddles in its affairs, no peace is possible.
At the same time, the Taleban militia should renounce violence and sectarian terrorism, if it really wants peace, unity, and stability to prevail in Afghanistan.
The resources of all Afghan groups should be pooled to resist and expel the Americans, rather than targeting the government or the ordinary people with bomb blasts.
These dastardly acts of terrorism are the hallmarks of US-sponsored terrorist outfit, Daesh, which should have no place in Afghanistan.
In short, all political groups, including the Taleban, should join forces for the betterment of the Afghan people, and expulsion of the American occupiers and their local stooges, the Daesh terrorists.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a friendly and fraternal neighbour, is willing to assist the people of Afghanistan achieve peace, stability, and development.

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