Taliban, Tehran to Launch Talks to Contain Border Tensions

Iran's flag is pictured at the Milak border crossing between Iran and Afghanistan, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran September 8, 2021. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
Iran's flag is pictured at the Milak border crossing between Iran and Afghanistan, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran September 8, 2021. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
TT
20

Taliban, Tehran to Launch Talks to Contain Border Tensions

Iran's flag is pictured at the Milak border crossing between Iran and Afghanistan, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran September 8, 2021. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
Iran's flag is pictured at the Milak border crossing between Iran and Afghanistan, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran September 8, 2021. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

ran and the Taliban agreed on Tuesday to hold talks soon to contain border tensions, while the Iranian National Security Council denied reports of sending tanks and armored vehicles to borders.

A state of alert was raised by the Taliban and Iran against the backdrop of skirmishes that took place at the end of last week.

Iranian media released video footage of trucks loaded with tanks and military vehicles heading for armored brigades in the 88th Corps, which is stationed in the city of Zahedan, the center of Balochistan province.

The Iranian “Khabar Online” website verified the footage of Iranian authorities ramping up deployment near borders with Afghanistan.

Later, Nour News, the platform of the National Security Council, stated that “the eastern borders are completely safe.”

The platform described circulated footage of troops sent to the Afghan border as “old and irrelevant,” noting that the situation is “completely normal.”

Nour News pointed out that the deployment of border guard units is “in accordance with their routine tasks in maintaining border security.” It noted that mediation is underway with the Afghan border guards to clear up misunderstandings.

The website accused those circulating the footage on social networks of attempting to suggest the existence of a crisis.

Iranian Deputy Ambassador to Kabul Hassan Mortazavi had held talks with Shabir Ahmad, head of the Ministry of Defense working group and head of the Taliban working group tasked with organizing shared border affairs with Iran.

It was also decided that the four-member Afghan delegation would meet with Iranian officials in one of the capitals or at the shared border after Eid al-Fitr to resolve border issues.

Regarding the presence of some Taliban forces on the shared border with Iran, Shabir Ahmad said that Taliban government officials, especially the Minister of Defense, had ordered that no one was allowed to stir any conflict on the Iranian border and that military deployment on the shared border was prohibited.



NATO's Rutte Visits Odesa, Says Support for Ukraine Unwavering

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, left, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, center, pose for photos with a wounded Ukrainian soldier during their visit to a hospital in Odesa, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 15, 2025.(Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, left, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, center, pose for photos with a wounded Ukrainian soldier during their visit to a hospital in Odesa, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 15, 2025.(Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)
TT
20

NATO's Rutte Visits Odesa, Says Support for Ukraine Unwavering

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, left, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, center, pose for photos with a wounded Ukrainian soldier during their visit to a hospital in Odesa, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 15, 2025.(Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, left, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, center, pose for photos with a wounded Ukrainian soldier during their visit to a hospital in Odesa, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 15, 2025.(Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said he had visited the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday and declared NATO's support for Ukraine was unwavering.

Rutte's visit was a show of solidarity with Kyiv following a Russian missile strike on the northern city of Sumy on Sunday that killed 35 people and wounded more than 100.

"Ukraine’s people have endured so much - not least Russia's Palm Sunday attack on Sumy. NATO support is unwavering," Rutte said in a post on social media platform X.

"We will continue to help Ukraine so it can defend today and deter future aggression, ensuring a just and lasting peace."

The trip took place as the United States - NATO's dominant power - is seeking to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and it followed fresh criticism of Zelenskiy by US President Donald Trump.

Zelenskiy said he and Rutte had visited a hospital where Ukrainian soldiers were recovering from their wounds.

"We spoke with our warriors. I presented state awards to our defenders. I am grateful to our guys for their strength, resilience, and for protecting our people," he said on X.

"I also presented awards to the combat medics," he added. "I thank everyone who defends, treats, endures, and supports Ukraine. You are our strength."