TEHRAN: Iran’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday a delegation of the Taliban had visited Tehran to discuss prospects for peace in Afghanistan.

The semi-official Borna news agency quoted the ministry’s spokesman, Abbas Mousavi, as saying the delegation discussed “the latest” developments with the Iranian side.

It did not elaborate. On Monday, Taliban spokesman in Qatar, Suhail Shaheen, said the delegation is in Iran. In December, Iran confirmed a rare visit of a similar delegation to Tehran.

The talks were not the first between the Taliban and Iranian officials. Last year, Iran said such talks had taken place in the past and that it would continue to facilitate talks between the militants and the Afghan government as part of efforts to bring a negotiated end to Afghanistan’s 18-year war.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2019