The Taliban discussed Afghanistan’s “post-occupation situation” with Iran in their latest meeting, the group said on Tuesday, as Tehran makes a more concerted and open push for peace ahead of a possible U.S. drawdown.
The remarks come after Iran confirmed on Monday that the Taliban had visited Tehran for a second round of talks in just a few days.
The Taliban delegation discussed with Iran “the post-occupation situation, restoration of peace and security in Afghanistan and the region”, the militants said in a statement posted on social media and emailed to journalists.
Likely U.S. pullout
It signals a growing confidence among the Taliban for U.S. troops to pull out of Afghanistan, after U.S. officials last month told various media outlets that President Donald Trump had decided to slash the number of boots on the ground.
There have been reports in the past of talks between Iran and the Taliban, but they have typically been denied by Tehran.
Tehran’s peace push will be viewed with concern by hawks in Washington, who fear that Mr. Trump’s planned withdrawal of troops from Syria and Afghanistan will cede regional influence to Iran.
The Taliban also met with the U.S., Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the UAE earlier in December. But, the militants refused to meet a delegation from Afghanistan.
The group said on Saturday that its representatives would not meet “with those of the Kabul administration” at the next meeting expected to be held in Saudi Arabia later this month.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will travel to Afghanistan in the next two weeks, the Foreign Ministry said.
Meanwhile, Taliban fighters killed more than 20 Afghan security forces in simultaneous raids on a provincial capital and district in northern Afghanistan, an official said on Tuesday, as the city braced for further violence.
Hundreds of militants were outside Sar-e-Pul city, which provincial Governor’s spokesman Zabihullah Amani said was at risk of falling to the Taliban if reinforcements were not sent.
