important allies

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spent the day in the Afghan capital, part of a three-nation tour of Central Asia. The visit comes as Afghanistan faces growing U.S. scrutiny over its relationship with neighbor Iran. From Islamabad, VOA correspondent Benjamin Sand reports the Iranian leader denied U.S. charges that Tehran supports Afghanistan's Taleban insurgency.

It was President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's first trip to Kabul and he used the occasion to highlight Tehran's support for its South Asian neighbor. He also sharply rejected U.S. allegations that Iran is supplying weapons to Afghan insurgents. He says the United States is making the same charges about Iraq but he has serious doubts about the accusations. He says Washington is opposed to Iran and Afghanistan's strong ties.

The Iranian leader spoke Tuesday during a joint conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Mr. Karzai was positive in describing his country's relationship with Iran. He told reporters he believed Afghanistan could help improve relations between Iran and the United States, both of whom he described as important allies.