TEHERAN: During a meeting with the UN envoy to Afghanistan on Monday Iran's president said that foreign interference in Afghanistan would not solve the problems in the country.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told Kai Eide that Iran would do its best to maintain security and stability in Afghanistan, adding that he was in favor of setting a deadline for the withdrawal of foreign troops from the country and the complete handover of authority to the local government.
The Islamic Republic's president said drug production was one of Afghanistan's most serious problems and Iran was ready to assist the UN in tackling the narcotic trade in the country.
Ahmadinejad also said Western countries were responsible for the hardship in Afghanistan with their policy of double standards:
“As long as they [Western countries] carry out a policy of double standards, the difficulties on Afghan land will not disappear. Certain foreign states, present in Afghanistan, cooperate both with the government and their enemies.”
Afghan officials said Monday they were stunned by the latest suicide bombings which left eight people dead and nine injured in two separate attacks.
NATO's representative in Kabul, the capital city, had earlier said terrorists have recently stepped up attacks in Afghanistan. In April, terrorist attacks were 50% higher than the same period last year.
