Afghan forces seize nearly two tons of explosives smuggled through Iran border

KABUL: Afghan forces have seized some 1,800 kilograms of explosives smuggled into the country through the Iranian border, officials in the western province of Farah said on Sunday.
The explosives were discovered on Thursday in the province which borders Iran. Authorities in southwestern Afghanistan and the US military have often in the past accused Iran of providing arms and cash to Taliban commanders in the region for attacks against government forces and foreign troops stationed in the country. Iran denies any state complicity.
"The discovery was made by the border forces. The explosives were smuggled from Iran’s soil,” Mohibullah Mohib, spokesman for Farah’s governor, told Arab News.
Dadullah Qani, head of Farah’s provincial council said the contraband was "hidden beneath a truck laden with potatoes."
“The explosives have been sent to laboratory for testing,” he told Arab News, adding that it was unclear who sent the shipment from Iran. However, he accused Tehran of providing monetary support to the Taliban to destabilize the southwestern region where the Afghan government has been developing a number of power dams that could deprive Iran of water.
Iran is yet to comment on the latest incident.
Hamayoun Shahidzada, a lawmaker from Herat province, which like Farah also borders Iran, said that “Iran’s interest is intertwined in the region and the news about the dispatch of explosives could be part of Iran’s support to Taliban groups.”
“I do not know about the discovery of the explosives, but there are some Taliban groups who are being protected by Iran,” he told Arab News.
Despite requests, officials at the defense and interior ministries in Kabul as well as a spokesman for US-led foreign forces in the country refused to comment.