Terror Groups, Drug Trafficking in Afghanistan Major Threats to World, Says Iranian Envoy

Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations on Wednesday, expressed concerns about the presence of ISIS and Al-Qaeda, and the expansion of drug production in Afghanistan.

Iravani addressed the UN Security Council and said that the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan and the region feel threatened by the terror and drug issues.

According to Shargh Daily, Iran’s permanent representative to the UN, added that drug trafficking in Afghanistan has not been fully countered and illegal drug trade continues in the country. He expressed concerns about the expansion of laboratories for the production and smuggling of industrial substances, such as methamphetamine in Afghanistan.

Iravani also touched upon the Taliban’s policies against Afghan women and said that the group has refused to form an inclusive government from various ethnic and political groups in Afghanistan too.

According to Shargh Daily, in an unprecedented statement, Iravani stressed that the Taliban "are deliberately trying to destroy the cultural, linguistic and historical ties of Afghans with the Persian language and to impose the Pashtun culture on other ethnic groups”.

The Iranian representative also accused the Taliban of working to "change the demographic structure of the provinces with Hazara and Tajik [ethnic] members”.

However, Iravani also urged the international community to continue "constructive engagement" with the Taliban.

He added that the isolation of the Taliban is not in the interest of the Afghan people.

Iran's representative in the United Nations expressed optimism about the management of Afghanistan's economy by the Taliban and called the "seizure of assets and unilateral sanctions" as the cause of the worsening economic situation of Afghan citizens.