Iranian and Taliban officials have reached a preliminary agreement to address the consular rights of Iranian citizens imprisoned in Afghanistan, Iranian state media reported Monday.
The accord was reportedly reached during a high-level meeting in Kabul between Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, and Shamsuddin Shariati, head of the Taliban’s Department for Oversight and Implementation of Decrees.
According to the Iranian reports, the two delegations discussed judicial and legal cooperation, including issues related to prisoner transfers, extradition of criminals, and mechanisms to ensure consular access for Iranian detainees in Afghan custody.
The Taliban authorities have not issued any public statement confirming the agreement.
Gharibabadi arrived in Kabul on Sunday, Oct. 26, at the head of an Iranian delegation.
The Iranian delegation emphasized the importance of protecting the legal and human rights of Iranian nationals held in Afghan prisons and called for structured cooperation between the two governments on consular matters, Iranian media reports say.
The number of Iranian citizens currently detained in Afghanistan is unclear, and neither side has disclosed specifics about the cases or the nature of the charges.
Iran has faced international criticism over its treatment of Afghan nationals within its own borders, including executions of Afghan citizens in recent years.
Analysts say that the absence of a legitimate, accountable Afghan state has left many citizens vulnerable to legal abuse in neighboring countries, particularly in Iran, where scores of Afghans remain behind bars on charges ranging from drug trafficking to immigration violations.
