Confirmation: Taliban return from three-day visit to Tehran

The Iranian Foreign Ministry had denied the Taliban delegation’s visit to Tehran on Sunday.

ISLAMABAD: Afghan Taliban confirmed on Monday that their top negotiators from their Qatar political office have paid a three-day visit to Tehran at the invitation of the Iranian government.

“The delegation led by Tayyeb Agha has now returned,” the spokesman said in a statement. The statement which was in Pashto language was also sent to The Express Tribune.

Four top Taliban top, Syed Tayyeb Aghan, Maulvi Shahab-ud-Din Dilawar, Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanakzai and Qari Din Muhammad travelled from Qatar and three other Taliban leaders – Shams-ud-Din Pehlawan, Mulla Numani and Muhammad Naeem joined them later, The Express Tribune has learnt.

Taliban spokesman, Qari Muhammad Yousaf said that the delegation traveled to Iran for discussing regional issues.

Yousaf said that another delegation of senior Taliban leaders recently visited Tehran at the invitation of the Iranian government where they attended an Islamic conference.

A Pakistani security official said that the Taliban had visited Iran on several occasions and that Islamabad is aware of the development.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbass Araqchi had denied Taliban delegation’s visit to Tehran on Sunday.