Future cooperation: Afghan Taliban on fence-mending tour of Iran
This is the first high level and formal interaction between the two sides.
The Taliban mediators are holding talks with the Iranian officials in an effort to remove misunderstandings between the two sides. ILLUSTRATION: JAMAL KHURSHID/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Three Afghan Taliban interlocutors have embarked on a fence-mending mission to Iran, the militia confirmed to The Express Tribune late Saturday through two of its officials.
The Taliban mediators -- believed to be drawn from the group’s negotiating team in Qatar -- are holding talks with the Iranian officials in an effort to remove misunderstandings between the two sides, the Taliban officials said on condition of anonymity.
“The Taliban will explain their policies and will allay the fears of Iran as it always had concerns about Taliban being Sunnis,” one of the Taliban officials said.
Syed Tayyeb Agha, Maulvi Shahabuddin Dilawar and Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanakzai are all part of the delegation.
Taliban officials said that Tehran had invited the Taliban leaders for talks for future cooperation.
They started the visit on Friday after approval by the top leadership. This is the first high level and formal interaction between the two sides, the Taliban officials said.
It is believed that Iran extended an invitation to the Taliban to have its role in any future process ahead of the 2014 endgame.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2013.
Three Afghan Taliban interlocutors have embarked on a fence-mending mission to Iran, the militia confirmed to The Express Tribune late Saturday through two of its officials.
The Taliban mediators -- believed to be drawn from the group’s negotiating team in Qatar -- are holding talks with the Iranian officials in an effort to remove misunderstandings between the two sides, the Taliban officials said on condition of anonymity.
“The Taliban will explain their policies and will allay the fears of Iran as it always had concerns about Taliban being Sunnis,” one of the Taliban officials said.
Syed Tayyeb Agha, Maulvi Shahabuddin Dilawar and Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanakzai are all part of the delegation.
Taliban officials said that Tehran had invited the Taliban leaders for talks for future cooperation.
They started the visit on Friday after approval by the top leadership. This is the first high level and formal interaction between the two sides, the Taliban officials said.
It is believed that Iran extended an invitation to the Taliban to have its role in any future process ahead of the 2014 endgame.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2013.