Monday, June 04, 2007

Gates: Iranian weapons moving into Afghanistan

An Airman rests briefly during a mission with task force infantrymen in eastern Afghanistan after seizing a Taliban position in April. A shortage of U.S. Army soldiers has led to the transfer of airmen and sailors into Army combat positions.

KABUL, Afghanistan — Iranian weapons have begun flowing into Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Monday, but he and Afghan President Hamid Karzai agreed involvement by Tehran cannot yet be proved.

Gates told a news conference at the presidential palace that he and Karzai had discussed the Iranian weapons issue.

"There have been indications over the past few months of weapons coming in from Iran," Gates said. "We do not have any information about whether the government of Iran is supporting this, is behind it, or whether it's smuggling, or exactly what's behind it."

The Iranian weapons are being supplied to the Taliban insurgents, he said, adding that some may also be headed to criminals involved in Afghanistan's drug trade. Gates did not specify what types of weapons were involved.

Read the rest at the Houston Chronicle

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