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World

Iran opens borders to relieve Afghanistan

Crescent International

The plight of the beleaguered Afghanis placed under UN sanctions on November 14 was relieved a week later, when Iran opened its border for trade with Afghanistan.

Iran’s decision to break the ice in relations following the UN’s latest blow against a Muslim people shows the maturity and wisdom one would expect from the senior partner in this equation. Whatever one’s opinion about the Taliban militia in Afghanistan, the fact remains that tensions between Tehran and Kabul (or Qandahar) benefited neither.

The grounding of Afghanistan’s airline, Ariana, by the sanctions is a major blow. Its three weekly flights to and from Dubai were Afghanistan’s virtual lifeline as Afghan merchants brought in goods of various kinds. Now goods from Dubai will be transported by land from Iran’s Bandar Abbas port into Afghanistan at Islam-Qala. There will also be increased trade between Iran and Afghanistan. The other major element of the sanctions is the closure of overseas bank accounts thought to be connected to the Taliban.

There was visible joy at the announcement, and the importance of the development was reflected in the capital’s markets. The price of a sack of flour was reported to have dropped by a third (from 150,000 afghanis to 100,000). The price of wheat and flour had also increased recently because of greater restrictions on trade being imposed by Pakistan.

Muslim activists from different parts of the world have long been advising Iran to take the first step to improve relations with the Taliban. Zafar Bangash, Director of the Institute of Contemporary Islamic Thought (ICIT), raised the matter with Iran’s foreign minister, Dr Kamal Kharazi, during a recent visit to Tehran.

“The fact that Iran has taken this step,” Zafar Bangash said, “is indicative of great maturity on their part, and will be a matter of great satisfaction and reassurance to Muslims worldwide.”

Muslim activists also have a responsibility to urge the Taliban to temper their penchant for rough justice, in which every gun wielder is a law unto himself. Afghanistan needs the help of the Islamic movement to create an environment in which the right kind of peace, not one imposed through the barrel of the gun, is established. The people of Afghanistan have suffered greatly over the last 20 years. It is time they enjoyed some peace and order.

Muslimedia: December 1-15, 1999


Article from

Crescent International Vol. 28, No. 19

Sha'ban 23, 14201999-12-01


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