U.N. Envoy Visits the Emirates

Sunday, October 25, 1998; 8:42 a.m. EST

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- A U.N. envoy briefed the president of the Emirates on Sunday about efforts to ensure peace between Afghanistan's Taliban rulers and Iran, the Emirates News Agency reported.

The Emirates, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are the only states to have recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan's government. Saudi Arabia, though, last month recalled its representative from Kabul.

The U.N. envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, told President Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of his recent visit to Afghanistan, which led to the release of 26 Iranian prisoners. He said earlier this month that the threat of war between the Taliban and Iran had passed. He also visited Pakistan and Iran.

Tensions began following the slaying of Iranian diplomats by Taliban forces in a northern Afghan city in August. Iran demanded punishment for the killers and sent more than 200,000 troops to its border with Afghanistan.