FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

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Iran Has Been Holding Talks with the Taliban, with the Afghan Government’s Knowledge

Dec. 27, 2018 (EIRNS)—Iran has been holding talks with the Taliban with the knowledge of the Afghan government, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani said on Dec. 26 during a visit to Kabul. “The talks were held to help curb the security problems in Afghanistan,” Shamkhani told Hamdullah Mohib, the Afghan President’s national security advisor. This process will continue, Shamkhani underlined, as he led a high-ranking Iranian security, military and political team to Kabul, Tehran Times reported today.

The news of Iran’s talks came a few days after talks between U.S. and Taliban officials over proposals for a ceasefire in Afghanistan, and a future withdrawal of foreign troops ahead of possible peace negotiations.

Shamkhani also hailed the constructive agreements arrived at during a one-day security conference among Iranian, Russian, Chinese, Indian, and Afghan security chiefs and advisors in Tehran in September. Mohib, for his part, said

“the Islamic Republic had always been one of the main pillars of security in the region. The cooperation of the two countries will undoubtedly be very effectual in resolving Afghanistan’s current security problems.”