Taliban delegation meets Iran security chief

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Taliban say their political delegation met with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani and other officials during its visit to Tehran.

A delegation led by Mullah Abdul GhaniBaradar, head of the Taliban's Qatar office, arrived in the Iranian capital Tehran on Tuesday.

The Taliban's Qatar office spokesman, Dr Mohammad Naeem, wrote on Twitter on Jan 26 that their delegation met with Ali Shamkhani and other senior officials.

He said the two sides discussed border issues between the two countries and problems being faced by Afghan traders and travelers, as well as the plight of Afghan refugees in Iran.

They also talked about strengthening of positive relations between the two countries.

Dr. Naeem said the two sides also discussed the importance of the intra-Afghan dialogue and the need for lasting peace and security in Afghanistan and the region.

The Taliban delegation would also hold meetings with other high-ranking officials of the country on necessary steps to maintain good relations between the two countries, he said.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said the insurgent team had been formally invited to Tehran for bilateral meetings “to review (the) Afghan peace process.”

Iran’s official media quoted Khatibzadeh as saying that the Taliban’s visit was “part of Tehran’s policy to reach out to key Afghan parties in the Afghan peace process.”

He said Taliban visitors held talks with senior government officials and they were also scheduled to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif.