A senior Iranian security official on Wednesday said, Iran have held talks with Taliban officials of Afghanistan with a knowledge of the Afghan government, during their visit to Kabul.
The news comes after last week reports of talks held between the United States and Taliban officials on proposal to a ceasefire in Afghanistan country, and the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan ahead of a possible peace negotiation.
According to news reports, the secretary of Iranian supreme national security council Ali Shamkhani was quoted as saying that the talks held between Iranian and Taliban’s officials were “to help curb the security problems in Afghanistan”.
Ali Shamkhani said: “All contacts and talks with the Taliban group have been with the knowledge of Afghanistan’s government and this process will continue.” He further did not give any details over the talks held.
During the recent months, Afghan officials have long accused Tehran, which the US believes is trying to expand its influence into western Afghanistan, of harbouring the Taliban with explosives, weapons and money. Though, Iran denied all accusations.
In the earlies of this month, the Afghanistan forces have abandoned a remote western district which borders Iran, leaving that area to Taliban after government’s failure of supplying troops stationed.
In November, the US had displayed pieces that stated Iranian weapons supply to the militants in regions Afghanistan and Yemen, a move to pressurize Tehran by Washington in order to curb Tehran’s region activities. Though, Iran denied any weapons supply to the militants of those regions.