Holbrooke wants Iran role in Afghanistan

US President Barack Obamas top envoy to Afghanistan declared on Sunday that Iran should play a vital role helping stabilise the war-torn country.

US President Barack Obamas top envoy to Afghanistan declared on Sunday that Iran should play a vital role helping stabilise the war-torn country. It was the latest statement by Obama officials signaling a clear shift away from the Bush administrations policy of avoiding direct engagement with Tehran.

The Obama administration has been very critical of Irans suspected pursuit of a nuclear weapon and support for terrorist groups. But the comments here on Sunday by the envoy,Richard C Holbrooke,appeared to suggest that the new administration might also seek to use discussions with Iran about Afghanistan as one way to establish a broader dialogue.

It is absolutely clear that Iran plays an important role in Afghanistan, Holbrooke said during an interview on Sunday with Tolo TV,a private Afghan television network. They have a legitimate role to play in this region,as do all of Afghanistans neighbours.

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He also passed up an opportunity to criticise Tehran about allegations some made by NATO officials that it has provided help to Taliban guerrillas in Afghanistan.

I heard those reports, Holbrooke said. I talked to the military command about them. I did not have enough time to get into the details yet,but I will get into it on future trips.

Obama has said that he will reach out to Iran for direct talks,and last week Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran was ready. The two nations have not spoken directly since Irans Islamic Revolution 30 years ago.

Holbrooke flew to India on Sunday night after making his first visits to Pakistan and Afghanistan as Obamas special envoy to the two countries,part of the new administrations review of American policy in the region from the ground up.

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