Seeking support: Afghan Taliban wrap up visit to Iran

Assure Tehran all sides would be accommodated in post-2014 set-up.

ISLAMABAD: Senior Afghan Taliban officials wrapped up their three-day visit to Iran on Sunday, assuring the country’s authorities that they would accommodate all sides in any post-Nato set-up in Afghanistan, according to a Taliban official privy to the visit.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said the Taliban negotiators also requested Iranian authorities to not support their political rival, the Northern Alliance, in order to avoid civil war in the war-torn nation following the Nato forces’ withdrawal.

“The visit was aimed at assuring Iran that all ethnic and sectarian groups will have representation in any post-Nato set-up,” the Taliban official said. He added that the Taliban delegation also allayed Iran’s concerns about the Hazaras in Afghanistan, who were allegedly mistreated by the Taliban during their rule.

According to the official, the visit was approved by the Taliban leadership. But while the Taliban have issued no official statement on the visit, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Araqchi has denied reports of the Taliban delegation’s visit to Tehran.

Afghan officials say they are disappointed at reports of the Taliban’s visit to Iran as any direct contact could harm their efforts for an intra-Afghan dialogue.



“The Taliban want to send a message to the US and they are also anxious to seek support of other countries,” said an Afghan official. Requesting anonymity, he said Kabul does not support any interaction with the Taliban outside Afghanistan and without its consent.

Former Taliban leader Akbar Agha said he did not believe the Taliban sent the delegation officially. He said there was a possibility, though, that some Taliban officials travelled to other countries in their personal capacity.

Meanwhile, according to a Pakistani security official Islamabad is aware of the development. He maintained the Taliban visited Iran on several previous occasions as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 3^rd, 2013.