Taliban Seek “Positive Relations” with US in Face-to-Face Meeting

The Taliban met this Saturday with representatives of USA in Qatar, in the first face-to-face meeting since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan at the end of August, in which the first asked for “positive relations” and to unblock international funds.

The Foreign Minister of the interim Taliban Government, Amir Khan Muttaqi, said in a statement that “high-level” delegations from both sides “held detailed talks” during the first day of meetings in Doha, which will continue tomorrow.

“At this meeting we talk about humanitarian assistance and we insist 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, a circumstance that the fundamentalists took advantage of to launch a swift offensive and capture Kabul on August 15.

According to the Taliban, the participants stressed the need to “maintain positive relationships and contacts.”

Fundamentalists called on Washington to help unblock international funds, suspended by many countries and institutions after the collapse of the previous government, Muttaqi said.

“We are trying to hold exhaustive meetings with the Americans, and in the coming days we will meet with European representatives to discuss the current situation in Afghanistan with the international community,” added the minister.

Muttaqi stressed that the Taliban seek to maintain positive relations with the international community to ensure the distribution of humanitarian aid.

The United States Government, for its part, stressed yesterday that its priority is the departure of the few Americans and other foreigners who remain in Afghanistan, and that the Taliban fulfill their commitment not to allow terrorists on Afghan soil to threaten the security of States. United or their allies.

Washington also vowed to pressure fundamentalists to respect the rights of women and girls.

The Taliban have maintained a discourse of certain reconciliation and openness that contrasts with their first government between 1996 and 2001, marked by human rights violations.

But for the moment, the international community has chosen caution in the face of the restriction of women’s rights, the growing allegations of abuse and the announcement of an interim government composed solely of Taliban and without a female presence.

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