Taliban pledge to protect Iran's diplomatic missions after attacks

Taliban's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has assured Tehran of full security of Iranian diplomatic facilities, diplomats and staff in Afghanistan.

Muttaqi gave the assurance during a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian late Monday after mobs attacked Iran's Embassy in the capital Kabul and its consulate general in the western Afghan city of Herat. 

Expressing deep regret over the incidents, Muttaqi promised that the Taliban would “completely secure the diplomatic facilities, diplomats and staff of the Islamic Republic of Iran in his country”.

Online videos last week showed mobs attacking the Iranian Embassy in Kabul and the consulate general in Herat with stones, which damaged the missions.

The Iranian foreign minister criticized Afghan authorities for failing to take necessary measures to ensure the security of the premises, which is a responsibility of the host country.

No one was hurt in the attacks, which came amid fabricated claims of systemic mistreatment of Afghan refugees in Iran.

Despite sanctions and many other problems, Iran has been hosting millions of Afghans for decades amid wars and harsh living conditions in the Central Asian nation.

According to estimates, some 300,000 more refugees have entered Iran since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in mid-August. 

During the phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Muttaqi thanked the government and people of Iran for their hospitality in difficult conditions, stressing Kabul’s determination to expand relationship and cooperation with Tehran.

He assured that Afghanistan will spare no effort to alleviate Tehran’s concerns regarding the security of its diplomatic missions.

Amir-Abdollahian said "millions of Afghan brothers and sisters" living in Iran for the past 40 years have always been provided with necessary services.

The top Iranian diplomat touched on a wave of “malicious, calculated and false propaganda” on some social networks, saying it is spread by the “enemies and opponents of good relations between the two neighboring countries of Iran and Afghanistan."

MG