(Tolo News) – Officials in Tehran have said Iran will provide fuel to Afghanistan only after Afghans elaborate how much fuel they need.
Experts noted it’s totally against trade transit agreements in the world to set Afghanistan’s fuel needs.
Officials in Iran’s foreign ministry has newly asked Afghanistan to let Iran know how much fuel Afghanistan requires so that Iran lets trucks cross into the Afghan soil to that extent.
“Iran’s could have asked such a thing if we were only importing fuel from Iran, but we import from Iraq, Turkmenistan and so many other countries,” said Taj Mohammad Akbar, a lecturer at Kabul University.
Once again, Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) warned that Iran should stop meddling in Afghan traders’ affairs; otherwise Afghanistan will ban business with it.
“This is a deadline set to Iran. Two days have passed and we will see how Iran will decide by the end of the deadline,” said Mohammad Qurban Haqjo, Head of ACCI.
Experts noted Iran is using Nato’s presence as an excuse to continue the fuel ban. They said Afghan government should also cut ties with Iran.
“Nato could fulfill its fuel needs from anywhere, this fuel is for domestic use,” Mr Akbar said.
Following protests by the Afghan government and warning of ACCI, Iran has announced to send fuel according to Afghan fuel needs.
Fuel prices have gone skyrocketing recently in Afghanistan amid tensions over a rise in insurgency in the country.
It has been weeks since Kabul citizens have staged demonstrations, mostly before Iranian embassy, for an end in fuel blockade from Iran.
In the latest demonstration on Thursday, protesters, while chanting anti-Iran slogans, urged international community and Afghan government to resolve Afghan refugees’ problems in Iran.
