KABUL (TCA) — Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has accused the United States of supporting Daesh (Islamic State) in Afghanistan to fuel regional terrorism and threaten neighboring countries, Afghanistan’s TOLOnews reported.
Speaking in Islamabad while on a three-day visit to Pakistan, Zarif said US helicopters have been transporting Daesh fighters from Haska Meena district in Nangarhar province to unknown locations.
In his address to the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad, Zarif said: “We see intelligence, as well as eyewitness accounts, that Daesh fighters, terrorists, were airlifted from battle zones, rescued from battle zones, including recently from the prison of Haska [Meyna].”
He also said Iranian intelligence agencies have credible reports that show US helicopters transporting the Daesh fighters.
He said no country can ensure its national security by destabilizing other nations.
“There has been an illusion the security can be purchased, there has been an illusion security can be attained at the expense of security of the others,” said Zarif.
But Washington has rejected the claims and said the US has been dealing Daesh a heavy blow in eastern Nangarhar in ongoing airstrikes.
“Iran and Russia continues to wage war against their political opponents and there is another reason we noticed Syrian and Russians never intended to implement the ceasefire. Because they plan for it,” said US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley recently.
This is not the first time such allegations have been made. A few months ago, Iran and Russian officials levelled similar allegations against Washington about US military transporting Daesh fighters to Afghanistan.
However, Zarif’s remarks on the US’s alleged assistance to Daesh in Afghanistan marks Iran’s first ever direct accusation against the US in this regard.
