Iran says Taliban must have Afghan role, but can't dominate

The Taliban must have a role in Afghanistan in future, but not a dominant one, Iran's foreign minister said on Wednesday, NDTV reports.

“I think it would be impossible to have a future Afghanistan without any role for the Taliban. But we also believe that the Taliban do not have - should not have a dominant role in Afghanistan. Of course at the end of the day that is the decision that the Afghans need to make,” Javad Zarif told India’s NDTV during visit to the country.

Diplomatic efforts to end the 18-year war in Afghanistan have accelerated in recent months after US appointed Zalmay Khalilzad as a special envoy to facilitate talks in September.

Khalilzad has met Taliban representatives three times and they have reportedly discussed withdrawal of foreign troops and a ceasefire.

Iran has also held talks with the Taliban. Zarif said it was up to Afghans to decide what role the Taliban should have but Afghanistan’s neighbours would not want them to be in overall control.

"Nobody in the region believes that a Taliban dominated Afghanistan is in the security interests of the region. I believe that is almost a consensus,” Zarif said.