HERAT, Oct 19: Afghanistan said on Friday it had no evidence the government of Iran was behind a shipment of weapons to Taliban insurgents. The commander of Nato-led troops in Afghanistan said on Thursday a shipment of hi-tech roadside bombs intercepted in Afghanistan on Sept 5 had originated in Iran and it was difficult to conceive Tehran’s military did not know about it.

“Iran is our neighbour, is our friend and Iran has had major role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan,” Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta said during a visit to Herat.

“The government of Afghanistan has no documents (to show) that Iran’s government is involved in the shipment of arms,” he said.

US leaders have accused Iran of supplying weapons to the Taliban, but Afghan officials insist Iran and Afghanistan enjoy warm neighbourly relations.—Reuters