The US stated on Sunday that the first face-to-face meeting between senior US and Taliban officials since the hardline organisation retook power in Afghanistan was “candid and professional,” and that the US side reaffirmed that the Taliban will be assessed on their actions, not just their words.
According to a State Department statement, the US delegation focused on security and terrorism concerns, as well as safe passage for U.S. citizens, other foreign nationals, and Afghans, as well as human rights, including meaningful participation of women and girls in all aspects of Afghan society, during weekend talks in Doha, Qatar.
According to the report, the two sides also addressed US humanitarian aid to the Afghan people.
“The discussions were honest and professional,” according to the statement, “with the US delegation stressing that the Taliban will be assessed on its deeds, not just its words.”
In the meetings, Taliban representatives pushed the US to relax an embargo on Afghan central bank deposits, Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister said Al Jazeera on Saturday.
Officials from the Biden administration told Reuters on Friday that the US team would press the Taliban for the release of kidnapped American Mark Frerichs. Another key goal would be to hold the Taliban to their promise not to let al Qaeda or other extremists to return to Afghanistan.
The Taliban retook power in Afghanistan 20 years after being deposed in a US-led assault for refusing to hand up al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks on the US.
The encounter, according to officials, was part of a series of “pragmatic interactions” with the Taliban, and “not about offering recognition or bestowing legitimacy” to the group, which took control of Afghanistan in August.
Officials from the United States claim they are in communication with hundreds of Americans and legal permanent residents who want to leave Afghanistan, and that thousands of US-allied Afghans are still at risk of Taliban persecution.
As a major humanitarian crisis approaches in Afghanistan, Washington and other Western governments are faced with difficult decisions. They’re attempting to figure out how to interact with the Taliban while ensuring humanitarian supplies comes into the nation.
(With inputs from NDTV News – Latest.)
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The Chenab Times News Desk