Washington:
The United States stated on Sunday the 1st face-to-face meeting in between senior U.S. and Taliban officials considering the fact that the hardline group retook energy in Afghanistan was “candid and professional” and that the U.S. side reiterated that the Taliban would be judged on their actions, not just their words.
State Department spokesman Ned Price stated the U.S. delegation in the weekend talks in Doha, Qatar, focused on safety and terrorism issues and protected passage for U.S. citizens, other foreign nationals and Afghans, as nicely as on human rights, which includes the meaningful participation of girls and girls in all elements of Afghan society.
He stated the two sides also discussed “the United States’ provision of robust humanitarian assistance, directly to the Afghan people.”
“The discussions were candid and professional with the U.S. delegation reiterating that the Taliban will be judged on its actions, not only its words,” Price stated in a statement.
It did not say if any agreements have been reached.
On Saturday, Qatar-based Al Jazeera tv quoted Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister as saying that Taliban representatives asked the U.S. side to lift a ban on Afghan central bank reserves.
It stated the minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, also stated Washington would give Afghans coronavirus vaccines and that the two sides discussed “opening a new page” in between the two nations.
Biden administration officials told Reuters on Friday the U.S. delegation would press the Taliban to release kidnapped American Mark Frerichs. Another major priority would be to hold the Taliban to their commitment not to let Afghanistan to once again grow to be a hotbed for al Qaeda or other extremists.
The Taliban took back energy in Afghanistan in August, pretty much 20 years just after they have been ousted in a U.S.-led invasion for refusing to hand more than al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
The U.S. officials stated the weekend meeting was a continuation of “pragmatic engagements” with the Taliban and “not about granting recognition or conferring legitimacy” to the group.
U.S. officials say they are in speak to with dozens of Americans and legal permanent residents who want to leave Afghanistan and there are thousands of U.S.-allied Afghans at danger of Taliban persecution nonetheless in the nation.
Washington and other Western nations are grappling with tough options as a serious humanitarian crisis looms significant in Afghanistan. They are attempting to work out how to engage with the Taliban without the need of granting the group the legitimacy it seeks, though making sure humanitarian help flows into the nation.
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