Taliban continue Tehran talks over the future of Afghanistan
The Taliban said yesterday that it discussed Afghanistan’s “post-occupation situation” with Iran in their latest meeting, as Tehran makes a concerted push for peace before US troops are withdrawn.
Iran confirmed on Monday that the Taliban had visited for talks for the second time in a few days, with discussions aimed at ending the 17-year conflict.
The Taliban said that they discussed the return of peace and security to Afghanistan and the wider region during their talks with Iran.
The meetings show a growing confidence among the Taliban about US troops being pulled out of Afghanistan, as announced last month by President Donald Trump.
There have been reports in the past of talks between Iran and the Taliban but they were denied by Tehran.
Tehran’s efforts to achieve peace will be of concern to those officials in Washington who fear that Mr Trump’s intention to withdraw forces from Syria and Afghanistan will surrender regional influence to Iran.
The Taliban also met the US, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the UAE last month in talks to end the war. However, the militants refused to meet a delegation from Afghanistan.
The group said on Saturday that it would not meet representatives from Kabul at the next meeting, expected to be held in Saudi Arabia this month.
Iran and Afghanistan share a 960-kilometre border and have had a complex relationship in recent years.
Tehran has long supported the Shia Hazara minority in Afghanistan, a group who were violently persecuted by the Taliban during its rule in the 1990s.
Iran worked alongside the UN and western powers to help drive out the Taliban after the US-led invasion in 2001.
But there have been allegations from western and Afghan sources that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has in recent years established ties with the Taliban, with the intention of driving out US forces from Afghanistan.