Future of Afghanistan has a regional dimension: US

Observing that Afghanistan’s future has a regional dimension, the Obama Admin hopes that Iran would play a constructive role in bringing long-term peace and stability.

Washington: Observing that the future of
Afghanistan has a regional dimension, the Obama Administration
has hoped that Iran would play a constructive role in bringing
long-term peace and stability in the war-torn country.

The Obama Administration said this in its reaction to
yesterday`s Kabul visit of Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad, who slammed US and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

However, the US`s reaction was a bit toned down given it
is engaged in a war of words with Iran on nuclear issue.

Iran is a neighbour of Afghanistan. Obviously, it has a
legitimate interest in the future of Afghanistan. There have
been times in the past where the interests of Iran and the US
have coincided. The two countries cooperated constructively
during the Bonn process that led to the establishment of
civilian government in Afghanistan, Assistant Secretary of
State for Public Affairs P J Crowley said.

"We have issues with respect to Iran, not only within
Afghanistan, but more broad in the region. We have been
prepared to have that kind of conversation with Iran. They
have declined to engage seriously in response to the
President`s offer of engagement out of mutual interest and
mutual respect," he noted.

But we understand fully that the leaders of neighbouring
countries need to have dialogue. As we say, the future of
Afghanistan has a regional dimension and we hope that Iran
will play a more constructive role in Afghanistan in the
future, Crowley said.

He, however, refused to respond to Iranian President`s
anti-US rhetoric while in Kabul on Tuesday. "We are in
Afghanistan to play a constructive role in Afghanistan`s
future and we would hope that Iran does the same," he said.

PTI

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