TEHRAN -- Iran’s special envoy to Afghanistan Hassan Kazemi-Qomi said Monday the United States is propping up Daesh terrorists to perpetrate various acts of terror in the country after its disastrous withdrawal from the country.
“The aggressor country that sought to rule over Afghanistan for the past 20 years is now trying to reinforce takfiri groups in Afghanistan after its defeat,” Kazemi-Qomi told reporters upon arrival in Kabul.
Iran’s envoy said he traveled to Afghanistan to discuss political, economic and security issues besides the refugee crisis with officials from the interim Afghan government.
Asked whether Iran will recognize the Taliban government, Kazemi-Qomi said Tehran “respects the demands of the Afghan nation. Our position is in line with the demands of the people of this country.”
Iran’s special envoy to Afghanistan also expressed hope that stability would prevail in the region with the formation of a strong government in Afghanistan.
“Afghanistan, like the Islamic Republic of Iran, is facing cruel Western sanctions. The two countries will try to secure borders in order to expand bilateral cooperation,” the Iranian diplomat noted.
Kazemi-Qomi went on to say that Iran has always stood by the Afghans, and will continue to vigorously support them economically and politically and back their efforts to ensure security.
Pointing to the U.S. defeat in Afghanistan, he warned about efforts by certain countries to wage a proxy war in the country.
The Taliban first ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, when the United States invaded the country and toppled the Taliban-run government under the pretext of fighting terrorism following the September 11 attacks. Two decades of foreign war and occupation have left Afghanistan impoverished and mired in an extended humanitarian crisis.