October 10, 2021
2 mins read

Taliban, US hold talks after troop withdrawal

The in-person meetings that began in Doha on Saturday are the first since the US forces withdrew from Afghanistan in August…reports Asian Lite News

Senior Taliban officials and US representatives have discussed “opening a new page” in their countries relationship, as they kicked off talks in Qatar, according to Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister, Al Jazeera reported.

The in-person meetings that began in Doha on Saturday are the first since the US forces withdrew from Afghanistan in August, ending a 20-year military presence, and the Taliban’s rise to power.

Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi said the focus of the Afghan delegation was humanitarian aid, as well as the implementation of the agreement the Taliban had signed with Washington last year, which paved the way for the final US withdrawal, the report said.

The minister said the Afghan delegation had asked the US to lift its ban on the reserves of Afghanistan’s central bank. He also said that the US would offer Afghan people vaccines against Covid-19, the report said.

The Taliban delegation will later meet the representatives from the European Union.

A spokesperson of the US State Department said on Friday evening that the talks are not about recognising or legitimising the Taliban as Afghanistan’s leaders, but are a continuation of the pragmatic talks on issues of national interest for the US.

He said the priority is the continued safe departure of Afghans, US citizens and other foreign nationals from Afghanistan, adding that another goal is to urge the Taliban to respect the rights of all Afghans, including women and girls, and form an inclusive government with broad support.

Al Jazeera reported that expectations of a breakthrough in the talks should be “tempered” because there is still quite a “chasm” between what the US wants and what the transitional government in Afghanistan wants.

“The Taliban are describing their delegation as high level, being led by its acting foreign minister,” the report said, adding, “On the US side, there will be diplomats from the state department, members of USAID and from the intelligence department.”

Notably absent is Zalmay Khalilzad, who has been the US’ point person in talks with the Taliban for years, the report said.

ALSO READ: Afghanistan set to become narco-state under Taliban rule

Previous Story

India, Denmark Ink Green Pacts

Next Story

Army chief talks tough ahead of India-China border talks

Latest from -Top News

UK MPs Slam Pakistan Over Minority Abuses

Minority communities such as Shias, Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadis continue to face harassment, violence, and intimidation. In many cases, law enforcement either turns a blind eye or enables the attacks through inaction…reports

Words Won’t Stop China, Quad Must Deliver

 If the Quad aims to counterbalance China’s growing influence, it must expand its focus beyond the maritime domain and address the continental dynamics of the Indo-Pacific…writes Imran Khurshid Despite early concerns that

India Stays Neutral on Dalai Lama Succession

As exiled Tibetan spiritual leader approaches his 90th birthday, he asserted on Wednesday that there will be the 15th reincarnation…reports Asian Lite News Responding to the Dalai Lama’s recent remarks, India on

USAID cut could kill 14 million more deaths

Human rights advocates and global health experts have expressed alarm at the speed and scale of the cuts…reports Asian Lite News A new study published in The Lancet has warned that ongoing

Trump goes nuclear on Mamdani

Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist and son of Indian-Ugandan immigrants, secured a surprise victory over former governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary.;…reports Asian Lite News President Donald Trump has intensified his
Go toTop

Don't Miss

US: Union, corporate ties sizzle as Summer of Labor heats up  

Financial analysts estimates that a 10-day UPS strike could be

China’s grain production to hit by Covid lockdown

China being the world’s largest grain consumer imported 28.35 million