The first direct consultation between the Taliban and the US remains focused on the humanitarian aid, safety, security, terrorism, and rights of girls and women in Afghanistan.
In an important development that will help the humanitarian aid to reach the people of Afghanistan, the US and the Taliban had conducted their first direct talks with each other in Qatar. This is for the very first time that two dispensations have met since the US troops left the war-torn country in August earlier this year. In addition to taking up the issue of aid, the discussion agenda also focused on key issues such as the evacuation of US citizens and containing the influence of extremist groups in the country.
Commenting on this occasion, the officials of the US described the discussions as professional and candid but added that the commitment of the Taliban will be ultimately judged by its actions on the ground. The officials also emphasized the fact that meeting the Taliban should not be considered as their recognition by the US.
Taliban, on the other hand, issued a statement on Sunday and said that US officials agreed to provide humanitarian aid in addition to facilitating various organizations which are working to deliver aid to people in Afghanistan. The outfit also declared that it will cooperate with all charitable organizations delivering humanitarian assistance to needy people and will also allow the movement of all foreign nationals who are stuck in Afghanistan. There is no official confirmation from the US on the claim made by the Taliban on humanitarian aid.
According to the spokesman Ned Price of the US, both sides discussed the mechanisms in order to offer robust humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan but he didn’t give any concrete details in this regard. Price also said that the US side had focused on the safety, security, and terrorism-related concerns of the US while also impressing upon the Taliban that the rights of the girls and women must be protected at any cost.
