Former Taliban Official: Washington Sharing Sovereignty in Afghanistan

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Vakil Ahmad Motevakkel, the foreign minister in the former Taliban regime, blasted Washington's interference in Afghan's internal affairs, and said the United States acts like a government in Afghanistan.     
 
"Certain issues have complicated the situation in Afghanistan, including the blacklist (of Taliban members), Guantanamo prison and the partnership of the government-like role and participation of the US in Afghanistan," said Motevakkel on Sunday.

"The presence of the US and foreigners in Afghanistan is in a way that it has created a speculation about their role as a parallel (shadow) government," he added.

Motevakkel reiterated that Washington's meddling in all issues of Afghanistan has decelerated the progress of different affairs in the country.

A large number of Afghan legislators and officials have on many occasions strongly criticized the western forces' weak performance in restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan, and voiced their opposition to a longer presence of the foreign forces in his war-torn country.

Most world countries, including Iran, have blamed the foreign forces for continued instability in Afghanistan and have called for a complete pullout from the country, which first went under invasion and occupation by the US-led NATO troops in 2001.

Iran has also urged for a regional approach towards the settlement of problems in the region, and called for the withdrawal of the alien forces from the regional states.

Late in May, UN Secretary General's Special Envoy to Afghanistan Staffan de Mistura acknowledged increased drug production in Afghanistan, and praised Iran's activities and efforts in fighting drug plantation, production and trafficking.

While Afghanistan produced only 185 tons of opium per year under the Taliban, according to the UN statistics, since the US-led invasion, drug production has surged to 3,400 tons annually. In 2007, the opium trade reached an estimated all-time production high of 8,200 tons.

Afghan and Western officials blame Washington and NATO for the change, saying that allies have "overlooked" the drug problem since invading the country 10 years ago.

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