Afghan Taliban Delegation May Visit Iran

Wednesday, December 15, 1999 5:40 AM EST

ISLAMABAD (Dec. 15) XINHUA - A Taliban delegation may visit Iran to hold talks with the Iranian authorities on the issue of refugees, Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Mutawakil said Wednesday.

The Associated Press of Pakistan quoted Mutawakil as saying in an interview with BBC Wednesday that during the visit talks on facilitating the return of the refugees may possibly be held if agreed upon.

The Taliban official denied the reports about the visit of any Iranian delegation to Afghanistan, saying so far no Iranian delegation has arrived in the country to hold talks.

Only the Iranian Consul and some Iranian companies which want to make investment in Herat or other Afghan cities held negotiations with local authorities in Herat.

No talks other than this has taken place, he said. As to when the Iranian companies visited Afghanistan and in which sectors and areas they want to invest, he said that this is an attempt by the public.

The people of Iran and Afghanistan have joint ventures. A company has worked for years in telephone sector in Herat and it had to bear fruits. They want agreement and consensus in some other sectors as well, said the Taliban official.