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Afghan Leaders Lament Soleimani's Death, Worry About Regional Escalation

Mohammad Habibzada

   The Afghan government said Friday that it was worried about an
   escalation of violence in the region after the U.S. airstrike in
   Iraqovernightthat killed Iran Quds Force commander General Qassem
   Soleimani.
   "We call ontheIslamic Republic of Iran, our big neighbor, with whom we
   have extensive common language, religious, historic and cultural
   [values],and we call on the U.S., who is Afghanistan's strategic and
   fundamental partner, to prevent conflict escalations, and we hope that
   both sides solve their differences through negotiations," a
   presidential statement said.
   The statement saidthatin a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary
   of State Mike Pompeo, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani noted that his
   country's security agreement with the U.S. mandates that Afghan soilnot
   beused against any foreign country.
   Pentagon officials confirmed the strike on Soleimani in a statement
   late Thursday U.S. time, saying the action was carried out at the
   direction of U.S. President Donald Trump.

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