Kabul: According to media sources, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban's acting Foreign Minister, who is presently in Iran with a 26-member group, met with National Resistance Front leader Ahmad Massoud and gave him assurances about his safe return to Afghanistan.

In a tweet on Monday, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid confirmed the meeting, which also included former Herat province Governor Ismail Khan, saying, "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan tries to make the situation of Afghanistan safe and conducive for everyone so that there is no opportunity for people to oppose the IEA." Muttaqi was quoted as saying in a different video posted by Mohammad Naeem, a spokesman for the Taliban's Qatar-based office: "Yes, we met with Afghan leaders such as Ahmad Massoud, Commander Ismail Khan, and others. We assured them all that they could return and live a life free of worry." Despite the fact that the anti-Taliban National Resistance Front has yet to confirm the meeting, Hafiz Mansoor, a member of the alliance, told reports said citing sources.

According to Iranian media sources citing Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzada, Tehran hosted the meeting, with the Afghan participants having productive conversations.

Last September, after the Taliban conquered Panjshir Valley, the last region in Afghanistan to fall to the extremists following their takeover of the country just a month before, Massoud reportedly fled to Tajikistan.

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