During a meeting with the Taliban, Iran's deputy interior minister Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian called for "the establishment of a direct channel of communication between Iran's intelligence, security and law enforcement agencies" and the Taliban.
Deputy Interior Minister for Security and Law Enforcement Affairs, Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian met with Abdul Malik Haqqani, deputy of the Taliban's Supreme Court, in Tehran.
Iranian media reported on Sunday that Pourjamshidian stressed during the meeting that the establishment of a direct channel between the intelligence and security agencies of the two sides can play an effective role in strengthening bilateral relations.
He added, "The two countries have always fought common enemies over the past years, and this has caused the enemies of the two Muslim nations to seek to exploit and create discord."
He stressed on the need for "vigilance on both sides to thwart these conspiracies" and mentioned the fight against terrorist groups, drug and human trafficking, expansion of judicial cooperation, extradition of criminals, immigration and border issues as important priorities in the relations between the two countries.
Iranian media reported that the Taliban delegation also called the establishment of a direct channel between the specialised departments of the two countries "the most effective solution to common issues in the fields of legal, judicial, citizens' affairs, borders, counter-terrorism and transnational organised crimes".
This is the first time that an Iranian official has publicly called for the establishment of an "intelligence channel" with the Taliban.
The Taliban has close relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran in the fields of security and intelligence. According to reports, the Islamic Republic has the most influence in the Taliban's leadership circle in Kandahar and has established close ties with some of the group's senior commanders. Iran has also played a significant role in the Taliban's victory.
‘Alternative Punishment For Afghan Refugees’
Meanwhile, the Taliban's Supreme Court announced that the group's delegation visited the children's prison in Tehran and called for addressing the problems of Afghan prisoners, especially imprisoned juveniles.
The Supreme Court said in a statement on Sunday that the administrative deputy of this institution met with the deputy of the Iranian judiciary on Saturday. In this meeting, the issue of alternatives to the death penalty for Afghan refugees sentenced to death in Iran was discussed.
Abdul Malik Haqqani called on the Iranian authorities to be lenient in dealing with Afghan refugees sentenced to death and to consider alternative methods of executing their punishment.
Iran regularly executes Afghan immigrants imprisoned in the country.
The Taliban has called for a ban on the execution of Afghan refugees in Iran, while the group itself has been accused of field trials, rape of prisoners, detention of dissidents, and widespread human rights violations.
