KABUL (SW) – In response to Iranian accusation of cross-border smuggling and infiltration, the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman has stated all borders with the neighboring countries are well-guarded by the defense and security forces.
Recently, Yaqub Rezazadeh, a member of Iran’s Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, claimed that the Islamic Emirate and Pakistani governments lack control over their border areas where smugglers and agitators are active.
Speaking to Iran’s Shafaqna news agency, Rezazadeh warned about the infiltration of agitators into Iran through Afghanistan and the smuggling of weapons from the Afghanistan and Pakistan borders into Iran.
However, the Islamic Emirates assured that it does not permit activities of agitators inside the Afghan borders. Hamdullah Fetrat, deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirates, described border smuggling as a global challenge affecting all countries. He called on Iran to take necessary measures to secure its borders, emphasizing that Afghan defense and security forces are vigilant about border security.
Meanwhile, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, lately reiterated concerns about the activities of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) along the Afghan border. She requested the Islamic Emirates to extradite Hafiz Gul Bahadur, a leader of TTP.
However, political analysts accuse both Iran and Pakistan of exploiting the fear factor against Afghanistan and claim that these countries pursue a dual policy towards the country.
Aziz Stanekzai, a political analyst, criticized Iran’s interference in Afghan and Pakistani border issues, alleging, “Iran has a hidden agenda. Pakistan has never refrained from intervening in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.”
Mohammad Zalmay Afghanyar Popal, another political expert, suggested that Iran and Pakistan could address their concerns through dialogue with the Islamic Emirates. “The assurances that the caretaker government of Afghanistan has given to Iran and Pakistan, can they also give the same assurances? I hope that these countries have come to the conclusion that Afghanistan with economic and political stability is in the interest of the neighbors and must find a solution to the conflict through dialogue,” he added.
Pakistan and Iran; Afghanistan’s two neighboring countries, have the most significant trade relations with the country. Currently, both are engaging in diplomatic interactions with the Islamic Emirates while also expressing criticisms regarding terrorism and drug trafficking issues involving the de-facto government.
