Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
“The hegemonistic powers should leave the region. Regional countries know much better how to establish their own peace and security and make progress… The enemies and domineering powers are prepared to spend hundreds of billions of dollars to achieve their inhumane objectives,” he noted.
During the visit, Ahmadinejad held talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the presidential palace in Kabul.
The Iranian president lamented that the Afghan nation has endured hardships for many years, saying the foreign forces are hindering Afghanistan’s efforts to make progress and attain prosperity.
He said the best way to fight terrorists was not on the battlefield but through the use of intelligence, which does not result in the death of troops or civilians.
Ahmadinejad was asked to respond to comments made by US Defense Secretary Robert Gates in which he accused Tehran of “playing a double game” by trying to maintain a good relationship with Kabul while hampering the efforts of US and NATO troops by supporting the Taliban.
In response, the Iranian president said the United States is the one playing a “double game” in Afghanistan and is actually fighting terrorists it created itself and once supported.
President Karzai said he was happy to see Iran’s achievements in various fields and said the Islamic Republic serves as a role model for Afghanistan.
“We are very optimistic that our brother nation of Iran will work with us to bring peace and security to Afghanistan so that both our countries will be secure,” Karzai said.
The two presidents also discussed bilateral and international issues and called for the expansion of the two countries’ ties in all areas.
Ahmadinejad was originally scheduled to visit Kabul on Monday but the trip was postponed to Wednesday.
Commentary