Taliban confirms FNA report on recent visit to Tehran

The Afghan Taliban movement in a statement released on its official website on Monday confirmed that it has sent a delegation from its political office in Doha, Qatar, to Tehran to hold talks with Iranian officials. "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) confirms the report released by the Islamic Republic of Iran's Fars News Agency about the visit to Iran by a Taliban delegation," the statement said. "A delegation from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, led by the head of Taliban's political office in Doha, has recently embarked on a three-day visit to Iran," it further said. The statement explained that "the visit was aimed at bilateral talks with Iranian officials on issues of mutual interest", adding that the delegation returned to Doha after the meetings. The recent Taliban visit to Iran was not unprecedented as another delegation from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan had also earlier been in Tehran to attend the Conference of Ulema and Islamic Awakening in the Iranian capital earlier this year. "The representatives of the Islamic Emirate conveyed the message and demands of the Afghan people to the international community and also had positive meetings with Iran's high-ranking officials on various issues, including those pertaining to the Afghan refugees residing in Iran," added the statement. "The Islamic Emirate also asked Iranian officials to pay due attention to the problems of the Afghan refugees residing in Iran and prevent occurrence of unpleasant incidents," it continued. The Taliban delegation's recent visit to Tehran was first announced by FNA on Saturday. An informed source told FNA on Saturday that "Taliban's political delegation was in Tehran to hold talks with Iranian officials," but he did not elaborate on the goals of the visit. "The delegation which consists of members of Taliban's political mission in Qatar and is headed by Tayyeb Aqa has already held talks with the security officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Tehran," the source added. The source also reminded that Taliban's Higher Education Minister Mohammad Allah Na'mani and Governor of Maidan Wardak province during Taliban era had traveled to Iran earlier this year to attend the Islamic Awakening conference in Tehran. The visit took place after Afghan President Hamid Karzai said that certain members of the Taliban were ready to hold peace talks with the government and its peace council. "We know the Taliban wants to talk to the Afghan government and the Afghan High Peace Council," Karzai told reporters in March. Iran has always expressed readiness to help the peace process in Afghanistan between the government and Taliban. Karzai and other Afghan leaders have repeatedly offered peace talks with the Taliban. However, the insurgent group has categorically rejected the offer, saying there will be no talks until foreign troops leave the country.