US building military base in Afghanistan near Iran border

The United States is building a military base in Afghanistan near the border with the Islamic Republic of Iran, Press TV reports.

Press TV’s correspondent in Afghanistan said the base is being built in an area known as Chahlang in Afghanistan’s Farah Province. The site of the construction is three kilometers from the Iranian border.

According to information obtained by Press TV, the US forces have already constructed a communications tower and dug some channels in the ground at the site of the base.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on May 9 that the US had demanded to keep nine military bases across the war-torn country, adding that, “We are in very serious and delicate negotiations with America.”

On Thursday, however, White House Spokesman Jay Carney rejected Karzai’s remarks, saying that Washington “does not seek permanent military bases in Afghanistan.”

Emal Feizi, a spokesman for the Afghan president, later denied Carney’s claims and said Washington has even chosen some cities for establishing the bases.

On May 2, 2012, Washington and Kabul signed a deal that authorized the presence of US troops for a period of 10 years after 2014, which was the original date agreed earlier for the departure of all foreign combat troopers from Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s Parliament approved the pact on May 26.

Karzai had confirmed for the first time in 2011 that the administration of US President Barack Obama had demanded the establishment of a system of permanent US military bases across Afghanistan.

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity remains high across the country despite the presence of many US-led foreign troops.

MYA/NN/HJL