WikiLeaks Exposes Shady Iran-Afghan Ties

The WikiLeaks revelations keep coming: Iran is even more involved in Afghanistan than previously believed, with the cables showing Afghan lawmakers and religious scholars on Iran’s payroll. A top aide to Afghan President Hamid Karzai revealed that he received sacks of cash from the Iranian government, according to one cable. Omar Daudzai “also asserted that in addition to financing Afghan religious leaders, Iran had provided salary support for some [Afghan government] deputy ministers and other officials, including ‘one or two even in the [presidential] palace.’” In 2007, the U.S. undersecretary for defense, Eric Edelman, warned Karzai of Iran’s meddling, and the cable revealed that Karzai believed Iran was trying to sabotage Afghanistan’s development and keep it from growing into an important regional transit hub.