The US will continue discussions with the Taliban in Qatar next week, focusing on the fight against terrorism and the humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan, among other topics.
As per the spokesperson of the State Department Ned Price, The US group will be led by Tom West, the US special envoy for Afghanistan, for the two-week talks.
The two sides will talk about “vital national interests,” which include:
- Counterterrorism operations against the militant Islamic State.
- Al-Qaeda.
- Humanitarian aid.
- Afghanistan’s devastated economy.
- Safe passage out of Afghanistan for US citizens and Afghans who worked for the US during the 20-year war.
West met with representatives of the Taliban in Pakistan who seized power in August as US forces completed their withdrawal.
The two sides met for the first time on October 9-10 in Doha, Qatar, where US diplomats supervising contacts with Afghanistan had relocated following the Taliban takeover.
On Friday, West reaffirmed US conditions for the Taliban receiving financial and diplomatic support from the US:
- Fight terrorism.
- Install an inclusive government.
- Respect the rights of minorities (women and girls).
- Provide equal access to educations and employment.
He stated that the US will continue to talk to the Taliban and would only offer humanitarian help for the time being.
In an open letter to the US Congress last week, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the foreign minister of the Taliban administration, who is not recognized by the international world, appealed for the release of Afghan assets blocked by the US.
