‘Where was $18 billion in aid to Afghanistan spent?’

TEHRAN, Nov. 7 (MNA) -- It is not clear where the $18 billion allocated to U.S. companies for the reconstruction of Afghanistan has been spent, senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official Mahmoud Barimani said in New York on Thursday.

Addressing the UN General Assembly session on Afghanistan, Barimani asked, “Has the money been put in the coffers of arms manufacturing companies?”

Insecurity, poor infrastructure, drug production, and refugees are the most important sources of concern in the country, he added.

He noted that foreign forces entered Afghanistan nine years ago to restore peace and security and to reconstruct the country, but insecurity has grown.

The increase in military operations and the surge in the number of foreign troops deployed in Afghanistan do not solve the country’s problems, he added.

Iran believes that foreign troops should be withdrawn from Afghanistan and the nation’s own army and police should take control of responsibility for maintaining security in the country.

He went on to say that Iran supports the UN role in developments in Afghanistan.

Barimani also emphasized the importance of regional cooperation on issues related to Afghanistan.