US warns of growing Iranian support for Taliban

dpa German Press Agency Published: Wednesday April 18, 2007

Brussels- A leading US official on Wednesday warned of
"unhealthy" Iranian involvement in Afghanistan, saying Tehran was
meddling in the country's political affairs and providing weapons to
a resurgent Taliban.
Richard Boucher, US Assistant Secretary of State for Central and
South Asian Affairs, also said Washington was not aiming to "wipe
out" the Taliban but wanted to stop the insurgents from disrupting
the political development of Afghanistan.

Boucher, who met EU officials in Brussels, said Iran was a
"developing issue of concern."

His comments come only a day after Pentagon's top general Peter
Pace said coalition forces in Afghanistan had intercepted
Iranian-made mortars and explosives destined for the Taliban.

"We don't know exactly who is doing this and why, but we know that
these have been Iranian origin weapons that have shown up in the
hands of the Taliban," Boucher said.

"We have been seeing a series of indicators that Iran is getting
more involved in an unhealthy way in Afghanistan," the US official
warned.

Boucher insisted that the "military defeat of the Taliban was not
the "key task." The focus was on building Afghan democracy and
strengthening the outreach of the government.

"This is where terrorism originally came from," said Boucher
referring to Al-Qaeda's use of Afghan territory. He said a
democratic Afghanistan would therefore play a vital role in
stabilizing the region.

"There is an historic opportunity to change the dynamic in this
region and create an area of stability between Asia and the Middle
East," he said.

© 2006 - dpa German Press Agency

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