Iran Seeks Clarity on Killing of its Diplomats in Mazar-e-Sharif in 1998

Iran urged the Taliban to clarify various aspects of the incident wherein its diplomats had been killed in 1998 in Afghanistan. On the 24th anniversary of the killing of Iranian diplomats in Mazar-e-Sharif, Iranian Foreign Ministry said that this is a decisive demand of Iran.

In a statement, the ministry condemned the attack and called it an “unforgettable crime”.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry added that the international community's widespread condemnation of that crime and the solidarity of the Afghan people made Iran display self-restraint.

In 1998, when the Taliban entered Mazar-e-Sharif city in northern Balkh province, armed men attacked the Iranian consulate and killed eight Iranian diplomats and one journalist.

At that time, the Taliban had denied involvement in the attack.

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry stressed that it stands by the people of Afghanistan and supports any solution that leads to permanent peace and stability in the country.

Iran, however, has emphasized on the formation of an inclusive government with the representation of all ethnic groups of Afghanistan.