Afghans Rally Outside Iran Embassy to Call for Unity

Date: 13 April 2022 - 21:39

News ID: ۱۰۱۶۱۲

TEHRAN -- Demonstrators in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, on Wednesday roundly denounced actions aimed at driving a wedge between the Iranian and Afghan people, calling for unity between the two nations in the face of conspiracies to poison their friendly relationship.
Hundreds of Afghans gathered in front of the Iranian Embassy in Kabul, where they shouted “No to seditionists” and “Unity! Unity!” while hailing the brotherly relationship between the Iranians and Afghans.
A statement was also read out in condemnation of the recent attacks on Iran’s embassy in Kabul and the country’s consulate in the western Afghan city of Herat.
No one was hurt during the attacks, which came amid resurfaced allegations of systemic mistreatment of Afghan refugees in Iran.
Reacting to the incidents, Tehran called on Tuesday for legal action against the attackers, stating that Afghanistan’s acting Taliban government is responsible for protecting foreign diplomatic missions.
A day earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh had warned against plots by “certain ill-wishers of Iran and Afghanistan” to sow discord between the two countries.
The Taliban, for their part, explained that the protests were “arbitrary” and “not authorized,” adding that the Afghan security forces rushed to the Iranian consulate in Herat and took full control of the situation immediately.
According to Iran’s ambassador to Kabul, the videos of t he mistreatment of Afghan refugees in Iran were made by an anti-Iranian terrorist group.
In an interview, Bahador Aminian said the Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) terrorist group has been carrying out systematic efforts with the aim of severing the Tehran-Kabul relations.
The Albania-based MKO is active in Afghanistan as well, he said, adding, “They produce clips to create problems for the Iranian government.”
He stressed that the mistreatment of Afghan nationals in Iran is not a systemic issue.
Iran hosts some 3.6 million documented and undocumented Afghan refugees who left their country due to war and harsh living conditions, particularly in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover of the country, which led to an influx of refugees to neighboring countries.
Tehran Police Chief Brigadier General Hussein Rahimi said on Tuesday that Iran has no issues with foreign nationals. “Everything is under control,” he asserted.
Rahimi also said people should be vigilant and not pay attention to such conspiracies that have been hatched to damage the friendship between the people of Iran and Afghanistan.
“The citizens of Afghanistan are our dear guests, and it is our duty to respect these people and ensure their security,” he added.