Iran dismisses London tone as ‘domineering’

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has dismissed the final declaration of the London conference on Afghanistan as “domineering.”

“The London declaration adopted a tone of dominance that infringes on the sovereignty and integrity of other nations,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehman-Parast, told reporters on Saturday.

Iran that declined to attend the gathering in London on Thursday says the conference merely focused on military aspects of the situation rather than making use of “regional potentials to solve the problems” of the violence-afflicted nation.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband condemned Iran’s absence at the conference as “inexplicable” and “deeply regrettable.”

Iran has a “positive role” to play in the region and “many countries will draw their own conclusions about the dissonance between Iran’s words and deeds,” Miliband continued.

Miliband’s comments on Iran’s non-show “does not affect Iran’s role in Afghanistan,” the spokesman added.

Iran, one of the largest foreign donors to the people of Afghanistan, is critical of the western approach in the war-weary country.

The London summit has agreed to a $500 million pay-for-peace proposal to bring Taliban militants into the Afghan government. Western officials say the fund is meant “to lure the estimated 70% of mainly low-ranking Taliban fighters.”

Iran says the decision could damage efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Human rights organizations have also expressed concern that the money will be used to obtain more sophisticated weapons by the Taliban.

The Taliban rejected the London conference as a failure and a ‘“ploy’ and vowed to continue fighting the US and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

“We insist on continuing our holy Islamic jihad against the enemy,” the militants said in a statement on Saturday.

West’s effort to reconcile with Taliban militants comes nearly nine years after the US and its allies invaded Afghanistan to allegedly destroy the militancy in the country. Afghan civilians, killed both in militant attacks and coalition forces’ counterattacks have been the main victims of the controversial war.