Tehran: Iran’s foreign ministry on Tuesday asked Afghanistan not to sign a security deal with the US that could keep thousands of American and allied forces in its neighboring country for another decade.
The request comes ahead of an expected visit to Iran next week by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who has endorsed the deal but introduced new conditions before approving it and deferred its signature to his successor in next April’s elections.
Iranian ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said the Iran does not consider the signing and approval of the pact useful for the long term expedience and interests of Afghanistan.”
The United States is pressing for Karzai to sign the deal to extend a military presence past 2014, when NATO and United Nations mandates expire and all foreign troops leave the country.
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