Iran and Taliban cooperate to fight terrorism

In a video released by Iran's Tasnim news agency on September 15, Mr. Khatib claimed that the West had driven the terrorist group known as Islamic State (IS) out of Syria and Turkey, causing the group to move to northern Afghanistan.

A Taliban soldier. Photo: FP

“They have established bases in mountainous areas where the Taliban government has difficulty reaching them and are carrying out attacks against Taliban members. We are working closely with the Taliban to take action,” Mr. Khatib said.

A major Shia pilgrimage site in southern Iran has been the target of two deadly attacks in less than a year. In the latest attack on August 13, one person was killed and eight others were wounded when a militant opened fire at the Shah Cheragh mausoleum in Shiraz. In a previous attack in October 2022, 13 people were killed and 30 wounded in an IS attack.

Iran has not officially recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. However, Tehran is seeking to establish a de facto relationship with the rulers in Kabul.

“Not only IS, other terrorist groups are also operating in Afghanistan,” said security analyst Nisar Ahmad Shirzai. “These groups can also threaten neighboring countries and the entire region. IS and other terrorist groups can certainly pose a danger to Iran.”

Iran and Afghanistan share a border of about 950 km, many of which are located in rugged terrain that makes patrolling impossible. Tehran maintained good relations with the Taliban even before the group took power.

“With the help of the Taliban, we prevented terrorist attacks in the holy city of Mashhad,” Iranian MP Mahmoud Nabavian told journalists in late August 2023 after arriving in Afghanistan.

Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city, is less than 100 kilometers from the Afghan border. Mr. Nabavian also said there was extensive intelligence cooperation between Iran and the Taliban regarding counterterrorism.

Quoc Thien (according to DW)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/iran-va-taliban-hop-tac-chong-khung-bo-post265698.html