Tehran confirms financial assistance to Afghanistan

TEHRAN, Oct. 27 (MNA) – After President Hamid Karzai admitted receiving aid from Iran a Foreign Ministry official in Tehran confirmed that the Islamic Republic gives aid to Afghanistan in reconstructing the war-ravaged country.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a neighboring country is deeply concerned about Afghanistan’s stability, and has given much assistance for the reconstruction of Afghanistan,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has done its part in helping Afghanistan rebuild and develop its economy and will do so in the future,” Mehmanparast explained.

Karzai insisted at a news conference in Kabul on Monday that the payments to his chief of staff were transparent payments for his presidential office.

Karzai’s chief of staff, Umar Daudzai, received regular cash payments from Iran.

Karzai angrily denied that the payments were secret.

Cash payments “are done by various friendly countries to help the president’s office… this is transparent,” Karzai said on Monday .

“This is nothing hidden. We are grateful for Iranian help in this regard. The United States is doing the same thing. They’re providing cash to some of our offices,”he said.

He said Iran has assisted his government with up to 700,000 euros once or twice a year in the form of official aid.

“He (Daudzai) is receiving the money on my instructions,” he added.