Iranian delegation meets Taliban

WASHINGTON (NNI): An Iranian delegation has held talks with the ruling Taliban officials in Kabul.

"The visit of the Iranian delegation is aimed at inspecting Tehrans missions in Herat, Kabul and Jalalabad. Its member also held talks with the Taliban Deputy Trade Minister" said Taliban Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Mutawakel in an interview with VOA.

He said that Iran has reactivated its Consulate in Herat while its missions in other Afghan cities have not yet begun functioning. Talks between Iranian and Afghan officials may be held in this regard in the future, he hoped.

Mutawakil said the border between Afghanistan and Iran was open and trade goods were crossing into Afghanistan from Iran. Asked if such steps by Iran could not be described as the one aimed to improve relations with Taliban, he said "it will be better that the nations of the region, having common interests, must improve their bilateral relations. There is no difficulty from our side and we hope that the neighbouring countries would also not feel any difficulty in this regard", he remarked.

The Taliban Foreign Minister was asked if they see a role for Iran in the Afghan settlement and if he or any other Taliban official has discussed this issue with the Iranian delegation, Mutwakil said that though Iran had recently announced that it wished to play role in Afghan settlement but it has yet given details of any such plane. He said that he did not think that the present Iranian delegation has the power to discuss this issue. "I am visiting Pakistan on Sunday. An Iranian delegation is also likely to come there and we may hold talks there", he said.

About Talibans recognition of Chechnya, Mutawakil said they recognized independence of Chechnya on the demand of the later and added Chechnya is an independent country. Its people fought a war and the Mujahideen succeeded in setting up an independent government. "I think the recognition accorded by us would be very helpful for the Chechen people in their struggle. The Russians are carrying out atrocities against the Chechens and I think this would not be acceptable to the world countries", he argued.

Mutawakil dispelled the Russian fear that Taliban would extend military support to the Chechens or provide training to them. About the appointment of the new UN envoy, Mutwakil said that the role of the new UN envoy depend on the UN policy. He said peace and reconciliation, anywhere it be, requires meeting of the demand of the majority. The ground realities in Afghanistan should be accepted, he observed adding the UN can play an effective role if it tries to understand the realities in Afghanistan.