Daesh Gaining Foothold in Afghanistan, Iran’s EX-Defense Minister Warns


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Former Iranian defense minister General Ahmad Vahidi warned of Washington’s continued moves to create tensions and crisis in the region and said the Daesh (ISIS or ISIL) terrorist group is getting a foothold in Afghanistan.

Addressing a gathering on “defense and security in West Asia” on Monday, General Vahidi, who is also the president of the Supreme National Defense University of Iran, said although the situation in the region has improved, evil deeds have not come to an end.

He further pointed to the US defeats in regional countries and said, “We should worry about more crises created by the US in the region.”

“Today, Daesh is gaining a foothold in Afghanistan and Central Asia, and the sound of war drums is still heard from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in the region,” the former defense minister added.

 In January 2018, General Vahidi had raised the alarm about Washington’s continued support for the Daesh terrorist group.

He said back then that Western powers had backed the terrorists and tried to prevent the defeat of Daesh in Iraq and Syria.

Since the terror group collapsed in the countries, the US has sought to move the Daesh elements to Central Asia and Afghanistan, he said.