Iran supports inclusive Islamic govt in Afghanistan: Zarif

KABUL (Pajhwok): Iran’s foreign minister during his meeting with deputy political leader of Taliban has said his country supports an inclusive Islamic government in Afghanistan.

A Taliban delegation led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Bradar, the group’s deputy political leader, visited Tehran on Saturday.

Dr. Mohammad Naeem, a Taliban spokesman for the group’s political office, in a tweet today said the meeting with Iranian officials was held in a cordial environment and they discussed commons issues.

The two sides also discussed the situation in Afghanistan, intra-Afghan talks, implementation of the Doha agreement and the need for peace and security in Afghanistan and the region, he said.

Tasnim, an Iranian news agency, today reported that both sides talked about the current situation in the region and Afghanistan as well as the ongoing peace negotiations.

Mohammad Jawad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister during the meeting, said that the US was not a good mediator in the Afghan peace process.

“We support an inclusive Islamic government that includes all ethnic groups and religious minorities and we deem it as a need for Afghanistan,” he said. He said that the Afghan people should not be a target during combat operations.

About the Constitution of Afghanistan, Zarif said, “Political decisions cannot occur in a vacuum. These conditions for reaching an inclusive future government should be considered.”

Mullah Bradar also met with Iranian National Security Council head Ali Shamkhani.

Besides visiting Iran, another team of the Taliban led by Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai visited Moscow.

Mds/ma