‘NATO cultural presence dangerous’

Head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Afghanistan Headquarters says the threat of the cultural activities of the US-led NATO forces is no less than the Western alliance’s military presence.

Mohsen Pakayin said on Wednesday that NATO is targeting the people of Afghanistan’s national and Islamic identity.

He added that the West uses the media to implement “soft” change in Muslim countries.

“Rejecting the cultural identity of Muslim nations and strengthening Western institutions, as the representatives of civil society are the methods the West uses to create soft political change in Muslim government,” Pakayin said.

The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 under the pretext of fighting al-Qaeda militants, toppling the Taliban regime, and restoring security to the country.

More than a decade later, insecurity continues to rise across Afghanistan, despite the presence of thousands of US-led troops there.

The United States and the NATO leaders have set 2014 as the date to hand over security to local authorities in Afghanistan.