Rafsanjani: U.S. Playing Role of Neo-Colonialist in Afghanistan, Central Asia
Talking to a group of visiting Tajik scientific, cultural and academic figures, Rafsanjani said that the United States entered the region purportedly to bring peace and fight terrorism, but has only succeeded in increasing insecurity in the region.
Referring to last week's bombardment of a wedding party by U.S. forces, he said the incident is an example of U.S. designs to create insecurity in Afghanistan.
Contrary to the slogans of the Americans and the expectations of world countries that drug production in Afghanistan would decrease as a result of the ouster of the Taleban, production has increased in the country, he said.
Meanwhile, the coffin of slain Afghan Vice-President Haji Abdul Qadir was flown back to his eastern fiefdom in Jalalabad Sunday amid emotional scenes ahead of his burial.
Afghan Army helicopters flew the coffin carrying Qadir, who was gunned down in his car by two assassins on Saturday in the capital Kabul, to this eastern city after a prayer service in the Afghan capital, 125 kilometers (78 miles) west of here.
On reaching the Jalalabad city center, the coffin was taken to rest at a family home where, in keeping with Muslim tradition, only women were allowed to pay their respects. Sounds of wailing could be heard from the streets.
Male mourners made their way to Qadir's home in the governor's residence in Jalalabad, a one-time retreat for Afghanistan's former king, Mohammad Zahir Shah.
Among the mourners who gathered for a traditional lunch at Qadir's home were Reconstruction Minister Amin Farhang and Environment Minister Yusuf Nooristani.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai was due to attend the burial later in the afternoon in Nangarhar Province of which Jalalabad is the capital.
Hundreds had gathered at the Jalalabad Airport when Qadir's coffin was brought here in a helicopter along with those of his two bodyguards, who were also killed.
Qadir's coffin was draped in green velvet and the green, black and red Afghan national flag. Red and white roses were scattered on top.
His brother, veteran anti-Soviet guerrilla Adbul Haq who was executed by the Taleban last October while inside Afghanistan fomenting dissent, is also buried in Nangarhar.
Many of the men who had gathered to greet the coffin of the one-time Mujahedin hero wept openly.
His coffin was then strapped to the back of a gun-carriage as around 300 soldiers trailed behind at a funereal pace.
The gun-carriage was hauled by a Soviet-era armored personnel carrier along the lush streets of the city renowned for its opium crops.
Soldiers carried flags at all four corners of the cortege, while many other mourners brought along their own elaborately constructed wreaths with pictures of the former Nangarhar governor in the center. The cortege made its way past a giant billboard which featured a painting of his slain brother Abdul Haq and read: "Honorable guests most welcome to Nangarhar ... the land of jihad, culture, knowledge and peace."