DTN News: Iran TODAY March 10, 2010 ~ Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad In Afghanistan Visit

DTN News: Iran TODAY March 10, 2010 ~ Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad In Afghanistan Visit Source: DTN News / Telegraph.co.uk (NSI News Source Info) KABUL, Afghanistan - March 10, 2010: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian President, is due to visit Afghanistan today for talks with his counter part Hamid Karzai.

The announcement comes the day after Robert Gates, the US Defense Secretary, said he was concerned Tehran was playing a "double game" in the country, being friendly to the Afghan government while looking to undermine the United States. Mr Ahmadinejad had been due to visit the country on Monday but the trip, which would have coincided with Mr Gates' visit, was postponed.

Western powers want regional players to co-operate in bringing stability to a country where the US and other foreign troops back Mr Karzai's government in the face of an insurgency by the Islamist Taliban. Iran says the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan is a key reason for the problems in its eastern neighbour. "Two dates were set (as possibilities), either Monday or Wednesday. Based on the president's schedule, Wednesday has been set as a date for the visit and God willing this visit will take place," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said. It would be Mr Ahmadinejad's first visit to Afghanistan since both he and Mr Karzai were re-elected last year. Mr Ahmadinejad has been invited by Mr Karzai and the visit was aimed at expanding bilateral ties. They are also expected to discuss "solutions for settling the problems" in Afghanistan. Western security analysts have long talked of the need for a regional settlement on Afghanistan to prevent a resurgence of old rivalries which could stoke a renewed civil war when U.S.-led troops begin to leave. But Tehran, locked in a showdown with the United States over its nuclear programme, has little reason to co-operate with Washington in helping it stabilise Afghanistan.