HERAT (SW) – The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a branch of Iran's Armed Forces, has been blamed for orchestrating targeted killings in Afghanistan’s Herat province.
Fazal Rehman Khadim, director counter-terrorism at the provincial police headquarters, said on Saturday the Iranian Consulate General, Mehmood Afkhami, is supervising the IRGC’s activities in the province. He said this following the assassination of his own brother in Herat.
The official said a total of 134 suspects, including four Iranian citizens, have been arrested in connection with the targeted killings directed by the IRGC. He said the Iranians were paying the assassins 100,000 Pakistani rupees for each murder in a bid to shift the blame towards Pakistan. Khadim also charged the Iranians for collaborating with the Taliban in the province. He added the Iranian group ‘Abdullah Akbari’ has been tasked with carrying out terrorist attacks in Afghanistan while shifting the blame to Daesh.
The director for counter-terrorism department said there has been an evident spike noted in terrorist activities by the Iranians whenever a public welfare project is launched in Herat in a bid to discourage investors. He warned the locals would rise up against Iran, if the government failed to take swift and effective steps.
The courts in Herat have been approached to hold the Iranian Consulate General, Mehmood Afkhami, he added.
The local civil society and members of the provincial council, are equally concerned about the foreign interference in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Jailani Farhad, spokesman for the provincial governor, has clarified actions would be taken if documented proofs are presented.
An official at the Iranian Consulate General in Heart, Ali Akbar Baba, told Salam Watandar they have noted such allegations, and would express the official reaction after investigations.
This comes as brother of Fazal Rehman Khadim, director counter-terrorism at the provincial police headquarters, was killed in the city last week. Another brother of Khadim, who was also a police officer, was killed in the city few months ago.
ENDS
