Strange bedfellows: Afghan Taliban seek Iran’s support against Da’ish

11-member delegation, reportedly holds meetings with senior officials of the Iranian foreign ministry.

ISLAMABAD:

Emerging geo-political threats have forced proponents of two opposite ideologies to seek each other’s support.

While the US remains the Big Satan for Iran as well as Afghan Taliban, the rising presence of Dai’sh has forced the Taliban to look towards Tehran for support.

Although, they share the same religious philosophy, Afghan Taliban are wary of losing power to the Dai’sh that is gaining popularity in the region.

Afghan Taliban have expedited their efforts to muster Iranian support against the US power and rising influence of Da’ish in the region.

Sources monitoring the developing situation vis-a-vis Afghan Taliban and Iran nexus, told Daily Express on condition of anonymity that an 11-member delegation led by Mullah Akhter Mansoor recently visited Tehran to evaluate as to how Iran can provide support to Afghan Taliban in fighting US forces.

“The Afghan Taliban delegation held a series of meetings with the senior officials of the Iranian foreign office and leaders of Iranian Revolutionary Guard,” a source said, adding, “the delegation also met with representatives of the Iranian supreme political leadership.”

According to the information pouring in about these meetings, the sources said that the two sides held discussions on the emerging situation in Afghanistan. “The Afghan Taliban delegation also requested the Iranian leaders to allow them to set up political office in Tehran in order to facilitate their political and diplomatic activities with other countries as well,” a source said.

The Afghan Taliban delegation apprised the Iranian leaders about the emerging situation in their country with particular reference to the hostile attitude of Afghan government in wake of improving relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan after President Ashraf Ghani assumed the charge in Kabul.

They also informed the Iranian leadership as to how the Taliban leadership has dispersed due to emerging difficulties in Afghanistan and even a number of members of Quetta Shura of Taliban have to be relocated elsewhere, the sources said. Meanwhile, sources said that Iran is also looking for support from the Afghan Taliban in order to ensure its safety against Da’ish. Tehran, according to sources, believes that Da’ish can become a big problem for Tehran.

The Iranians, if at all, will commit support to Afghan Taliban only on commitment from Afghan Taliban that they will protect Iran against the possible influence of Da’ish, the sources maintained.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2015.