Iran 'seeking conflict by proxy in Afghanistan': Britain

Source: AFP

LONDON (AFP) - British Defence Secretary Des Browne said there were signs that Iran was helping the Taliban fight coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Indications were that it was seeking to attack international troops "by proxy," he told the defence committee of parliament's lower House of Commons, which scrutinises Ministry of Defence administration and policy.

"Demonstrably they have sought confrontation by proxy with us and the United States and other NATO members elsewhere in the region and there is some indication that they are doing the same in Afghanistan," he said on Tuesday.

Last month British Prime Minister Tony Blair accused elements in Tehran of "backing, financing, arming, supporting terrorism in Iraq."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070509/wl_sthasia_afp/britainiranmilitaryafghanistanpakistan_070509084422

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Everything I have read indicates that Iran considers the Taliban to be one of its biggest enemies - although maybe things have changed in the last few years

According to some estimates, Afghanistan is ~25% Shiite. Also, I have the feeling that Iran's leadership is a little too clever to get hung up on Sunni vs. Shiite when there's big bad America to fight.

Iran's relieved at its old foes' remnoval from power in Kabul - in fact it offered to do the job itself in 1998 provided Washington kept Pakistan out of the conflict, but it's yet to hear back.

Iran's reasonably satisfied at the present situation (in 2001 it helped the US to arrange the new political setup). And one thing it doesn't want is a pro-Pakistan regime in Afghanistan.

There may be some groups in Iran supplying arms: that's a very different matter to the regime doing it: It has its own friends in Afghanistan anyway.

This is just Downing St doing its poodle act for the neocons again.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/04/abc_news_exclus.html

The group, called Jundullah, is made up of members of the Baluchi tribe and operates out of the Baluchistan province in Pakistan, just across the border from Iran.

It has taken responsibility for the deaths and kidnappings of more than a dozen Iranian soldiers and officials.

U.S. officials say the U.S. relationship with Jundullah is arranged so that the U.S. provides no funding to the group, which would require an official presidential order or "finding" as well as congressional oversight.

Tribal sources tell ABC News that money for Jundullah is funneled to its youthful leader, Abd el Malik Regi, through Iranian exiles who have connections with European and Gulf states.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=125x154266

WOW. Iran sure is beating the crap out of the USA. In TWO nations occupied by the USA.

Amazing powerhouse that Iran is!

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