Mohsen Pakaein:It is evident that in today's world, the nations and perceptions of security, economy and development are not abstract and isolated but rather deeply interdependent. Durable security will be realized only when it is accompanied by development and security is a cornerstone and infrastructure for development. In this trend, Islamic Republic of Iran's human rights policies on Afghanistan's reconstruction have been centered in two main categories of "facilitation of trade and transit of goods in Afghanistan's territory and revitalization of Afghanistan's economic and social infrastructures".
For the first category, in addition to its grants to the government of Afghanistan, through allocation of further amounts of its current national budget, Islamic Republic of Iran has performed the following: expansion of network of roads crossing and ending up to the shared borders with Afghanistan, extension of water, electricity and telecommunication networks up to the Afghanistan border, increase in the capacity of Chabahar harbor as closest port to the Afghanistan soil, construction of terminals and customs offices and upgrading equipments in shared border with Afghanistan, rendering facilities in customs tariffs and duties, and finally establishment of air flights. Islamic Republic of Iran also over the last 3 decades, has hosted more than 3 million Afghan nationals that, after formation of new situation in Afghanistan (after September 2002) the flow of refugees has continued.
During these years, the government of Iran has borne very enormous costs and expenses for the presence of Afghans including costs pertaining to state subsidies, education, healthcare and treatment, providing security etc.Efforts have been made to secure a better situation for Afghan adolescents and youth, through increasing educational assistance at different levels with a view to help them become literate and educated before returning to their country.
In second category which pertains to grants, so far, Islamic Republic of Iran has offered more than 300 million dollars in grant in line with implementing reconstruction projects in Afghanistan.
Also in Paris conference (2008) allocation of 50 million dollars for the coming two years in grant and 300 million dollars credit for the coming 3 years has been declared.Iran's assistance and involvement in Afghanistan's reconstruction has been conducted in 3 categories of infrastructural equipments, technical and training services (involvement in training and capacity-building for ministries, granting scholarships, establishing technical and vocational centers, teacher training center in Kabul, Kabul telecommunication training center, etc.) and cash aid to the government.
A major part of Iran's support to Afghanistan's reconstruction was in the area of creating infrastructural equipments such as building roads, bridges and also supplying power. These equipments are very vital and effective in line with development of Afghanistan's infrastructures.In the road construction, the operation of building transit road of Dogharun to Herat has already been commenced. linkage of this ring road which stretches from Herat to Meymaneh to the north of Afghanistan - a part of which has been implemented and commissioned by the Islamic Republic of Iran - plays a great role in connecting Afghanistan to the Central Asian states and also in creating ring road connections between the roads of Afghanistan.Also the connectedness of Afghanistan's south to its center and north via Chabahar port and construction of Milak border bridge will play a significant role in connecting transit routes of the country to the high seas and ports in the sea of Oman and the Persian Gulf.
The great project of Khaf-Herat railway - operation of which has also been commenced - will create a significant development in transit and connecting Afghanistan with regional and extra-regional (Europe) countries. Its connection to the railway of Central Asia, Turkey and Europe via Iran and also its connection to Iran's nationwide railways network - which will stretch from Bandar Abbas to Afghanistan - can play an important role in economic growth and development of Afghanistan.
Finally the intertwinement of regional economies and formation of strong ties among them will create such interdependence among the countries located in a region including Afghanistan. Therefore, this matter, on its own, will bring about durable security to the region.
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