KABUL – *Amid reports of Tehran’s involvement in deteriorating security inwestern Farah province of Afghanistan, the Iran ambassador in Kabul sayshis country has no links with the Taliban but have contacts to bring thegroup to the negotiation table.*
Speaking in a special interview with Ariana News on Saturday, the Iranianenvoy Mohammad Reza Bahrami said that Iran’s contacts with the Taliban aimto help and support the Afghanistan peace and reconciliation process.
“We have contacts not relations [with the Taliban],” Bahrami said. “It isin our interest to be a contributor in talks between the government ofAfghanistan and opposition groups.”
Bahrami, meanwhile, said that his country has not been involved behind theTaliban’s recent attacks in the provincial capital of western Farahprovince – bordering with Iran- that left scores killed and injured.He said any kind of debates in this regard will concern and harm publicopinion.
“Personally I don’t accept the concept. This impression is not real andwill create concerns to public. This impression and mentality is notdocumented,” he said.
Referring to Iran’s role in recruiting Afghan nationals to fight in Syriaas part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the Iranian envoysaid that the Afghans are voluntarily taking part in Syrian war in a bid todefend the holy places in the country.
“We have not encouraged or guided them, it has been based on their will.We are in Syria based on the request of Syrian government,” Bahrami said.“We have had advisory role there and we are doing this with the agreementof Syrian government.”
The official, meanwhile expressed hope that the Afghan security forces earnthat capability to defend their country without the support ofinternational forces.