Prominent Muslim scholars meet Afghan deputy foreign minister

Deputy Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Sher M Abbas and his delegation met with the head of the International Union of Religious Scholars (IURS) Dr Ahmad Raisoni at his office on Saturday, the Taliban spokesman said on Twitter.

Suhail Shaheen said that General Secretary IURS Dr Ali Qara Daghi and other members of the organisation was part of the visiting delegation. Deputy foreign minister thanked the delegation for their message of congratulation, saying it meant recognition of IEA (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) on the part of the religious scholars and people of the Islamic world, he added.

Similarly, Shaheen said, Dr Raisoni pledged comprehensive cooperation with the IEA and the people of Afghanistan.

On Thursday, a UN envoy met Afghan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani.

The meeting between Deborah Lyons, head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, and Haqqani focused on humanitarian assistance, Shaheen had said.

"(Haqqani) stressed that UN personnel can conduct their work without any hurdle and deliver vital aid to the Afghan people," he said.

Afghanistan was already facing chronic poverty and drought but the situation has deteriorated since the Taliban took over last month with the disruption of aid, the departure of tens of thousands of people including government and aid workers and the collapse of much economic activity.