White House concerned TEHRAN: Iran acknowledged on Tuesday that it had given “assistance” to Afghanistan in reconstructing the war-wracked country, after President Hamid Karzai admitted receiving bags of cash from Tehran. “Iran, as a neighbouring government is deeply concerned about Afghanistan's stability, and has given much assistance for the reconstruction of Afghanistan,” foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said when asked to comment on Karzai's announcement that Tehran had given bags of cash to one of his aides. “Iran has done its part in helping Afghanistan rebuild and develop its economy and will do so in the future,” Mehmanparast said, without elaborating on the form of the assistance. The White House on Monday voiced concern about Iran's “negative influence” on Afghanistan in the light of Karzai's revelation. Karzai insisted at a news conference in Kabul on Monday that the payments to his chief of staff - sometimes as much as 700,000 euros (980,000 dollars) at a time - were transparent payments for his presidential office. But White House deputy spokesman Bill Burton said: “I think the American people and the global community have every reason to be concerned about Iran trying to have a negative influence on Afghanistan.” He said Iran had a responsibility to exert “a positive influence on the formation of a government there, and to ensure that Afghanistan is not a country where terrorists can find safe harbour, or where attacks can be planned on their soil.” The New York Times reported on Saturday that Karzai's chief of staff, Umar Daudzai, received regular cash payments from Iran, which is reportedly trying to expand its influence in the presidential palace in Kabul. Karzai angrily denied that the payments were secret. – Agence France
