Iran has expressed concern about Afghanistan’s strategic agreements with the U.S., the Afghan deputy foreign minister announced.
Javid Ludin told a press conference that Iran has informed him of its concerns regarding the agreements. Ludin said he assured Iranian authorities that these treaties will not harm Iranian interests in the region; Afghanistan will only sign treaties that “are in the interests of Afghanistan and do not harm other countries or create tensions in the region.”
Ludin added that peace and stability in the region depend on stability in Afghanistan, emphasizing his country’s goal of good relations with its neighbours.
More than 100,000 U.S. troops are currently deployed in Afghanistan, and U.S. President Barack Obama has set 2015 as their exit date. He has also said that would not bring an end to U.S.-Afghan relations.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has stated that any strategic agreements with the U.S. will have to be in the interests of Afghanistan. He said an Afghan commission has been charged with reviewing the country’s political, economic and military interests in relation to any strategic treaties proposed with Washington.
