“OPENING A NEW PAGE”: US, TALIBAN HOLD FIRST TALKS SINCE AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL

Sun 10 October 2021:

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

The Taliban Foreign Affairs Minister Amir Khan Mutaqqi said Saturday that the group remains ready to “positively” interact with the international community as he held talks with US officials in Doha.

Mutaqqi met US officials at the head of a Taliban delegation in the Qatari capital for the first official interaction between the two sides after the group’s rise to power in Afghanistan.

Mutaqqi said that the sides discussed “opening a new page” with the US and prioritized humanitarian aid, according to Al Jazeera.

Afghanistan’s state-owned Bakhtar news agency reported that the continuation of humanitarian aid, full implementation of the Doha Agreement, respect for Afghanistan’s territorial integrity and non-interference in each other’s affairs were discussed.

“We will have detailed discussions with the US delegation as well as with representatives of European countries in the coming days. We have made it clear to the United States that destabilizing Afghanistan and weakening the current government is not in anyone’s interest. Stability and positive interaction with the world in Afghanistan is in everyone’s interest. No attempt should be made to weaken the current government and cause problems for Afghans,” Bakhtar quoted the minister.

It said Mutaqqi demanded the US release Afghanistan’s frozen state assets.

“Afghans are facing economic and other challenges and efforts must be made to address them. The new government is committed to interacting positively with the international community, paving the way for the regular distribution of international aid, paying government employees, and providing facilities and services to the people of Afghanistan,” he said.

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

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

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