Talks with Taliban in Qatar were ‘candid’: US
Washington, Oct 10 (EFE).- The talks between senior Taliban officials and representatives from the United States over the weekend in Doha were candid, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Sunday.
“The discussions were candid and professional with the US delegation reiterating that the Taliban will be judged on its actions, not only its words,” Price said in a statement.
The two sides held their first face-to-face meeting since US forces withdrew from Afghanistan in late August that paved the way for the Taliban to seize power in Kabul.
Price said an inter-agency delegation from the US traveled to Doha to meet with senior Taliban representatives for the talks on Saturday and Sunday in the Qatari capital.
“The US delegation focused on security and terrorism concerns and safe passage for US citizens, other foreign nationals and our Afghan partners, as well as on human rights, including the meaningful participation of women and girls in all aspects of Afghan society,” said Price.
The spokesperson noted that both sides discussed the US “provision of robust humanitarian assistance, directly to the Afghan people.”
A State Department spokesperson had told EFE on Friday that the focus of the meeting would be the safe passage of few Americans and other foreigners who remain in Afghanistan and the Afghans with whom Washington has “a commitment.”
The US has maintained contact with the Taliban since the troops withdrew from Afghanistan.
The official said the first face-to-face meeting was not to recognize or give the Taliban government any legitimacy.
Acting Foreign Minister Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi, who led the Afghan side, said in a statement released Saturday that “high-level” delegations from both sides “held detailed talks.”
He said they also spoke of “humanitarian assistance” and insisted that “the Doha agreement must be fully implemented.”
“Afghan integrity and airspace should be respected and there should be no interference in internal affairs,” Muttaqi said.
The Taliban and the United States reached an agreement in February 2020 in Doha that marked the final withdrawal of US troops from the country on Aug 30. EFE
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