Taliban assures Iran of accommodating all sides in any post-NATO set-up in Afghanistan

Senior Afghan Taliban officials, who wrapped up their three-day visit to Iran, have assured Iranian authorities that they would accommodate all sides in any post-NATO set-up in Afghanistan, according to sources.

The Express Tribune quoted a Taliban official, as saying that the Taliban negotiators also requested Iranian authorities to not support their political rival, the Northern Alliance, in order to avoid civil war in the war-torn nation following the NATO forces' withdrawal.

The official said that the visit was aimed at assuring Iran that all ethnic and sectarian groups will have representation in any post-NATO set-up.

While the Taliban have issued no official statement on the visit, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Araqchi has denied reports of the Taliban delegation's visit to Tehran.

Afghan officials say they are disappointed at reports of the Taliban's visit to Iran as any direct contact could harm their efforts for an intra-Afghan dialogue.

An Afghan official said that Kabul does not support any interaction with the Taliban outside Afghanistan and without its consent.