The two sides also discussed US humanitarian aid to the Afghan people.
Highlight
- US delegation focused on security and terrorism concerns
- It would also put pressure on the Taliban to release kidnapped American Mark Frerichs
- Taliban took back power in Afghanistan in August
Washington:
The United States said on Sunday that the first one-on-one meeting between senior US and Taliban officials since the radical group came to power in Afghanistan was “clear and professional” and the US side reiterated that the Taliban were judged on their actions. Not just his words.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said the US delegation at the weekend’s talks in Doha, Qatar, focused on security and terrorism concerns and human rights, including safe passage for American citizens, other foreign nationals and Afghans, as well as meaningful participation of women. focused. and girls in all aspects of Afghan society.
He said the two sides also discussed “the United States’ strong provision of humanitarian assistance, directly to the Afghan people”.
“The discussions were clear and professional, with the US delegation reiterating that the Taliban will be judged not only by their actions, but also by their words,” Price said in a statement.
It did not say whether an agreement had been reached or not.
On Saturday, Qatar-based Al Jazeera television quoted Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister as saying that Taliban representatives asked the US side to lift sanctions on Afghan central bank reserves.
It said the minister, Amir Khan Muttaki, also said that Washington would introduce coronavirus vaccines to Afghans and the two sides discussed “opening a new page” between the two countries.
Biden administration officials told Reuters on Friday that the US delegation would pressure the Taliban to release kidnapped American Mark Frerichs. Another top priority will be to uphold its commitment to not allowing the Taliban to become a stronghold for al-Qaeda or other extremists again.
The Taliban took power in Afghanistan in August, nearly 20 years after being ousted in a US-led offensive for refusing to hand over al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
US officials said the weekend’s meeting was a continuation of a “practical engagement” with the Taliban and was not about “recognizing or legitimizing” the group.
US officials say they are in contact with dozens of Americans and legal permanent residents who want to leave Afghanistan and that the country still has thousands of US-allied Afghans at risk of Taliban persecution.
Washington and other Western countries are grappling with tough choices as a serious humanitarian crisis looms large in Afghanistan. They are trying to work out how to engage with the Taliban without giving legitimacy to the group, while ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid to the country.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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