U.S. says Taliban talks in Doha were 'candid and professional'
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[October 11, 2021]
By David Brunnstrom
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States
said on Sunday the first face-to-face meeting between senior U.S. and
Taliban officials since the hardline group retook power in Afghanistan
was "candid and professional" and that the U.S. side reiterated that the
Taliban would be judged on their actions, not just their words.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said the U.S. delegation at the
weekend talks in Doha, Qatar, focused on security and terrorism concerns
and safe passage for U.S. citizens, other foreign nationals and Afghans,
as well as on human rights, including the meaningful participation of
women and girls in all aspects of Afghan society.
He said the two sides also discussed "the United States’ provision of
robust humanitarian assistance, directly to the Afghan people."
"The discussions were candid and professional with the U.S. delegation
reiterating that the Taliban will be judged on its actions, not only its
words," Price said in a statement.
It did not say if any agreements were reached.
The foreign ministry in Kabul said the two-day meeting went well. It
welcomed the U.S. offer of humanitarian assistance and said local
authorities would facilitate delivery and cooperate with aid groups but
said such assistance "should not be linked to political issues".
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"Detailed discussions were held during the meeting about all relevant
issues. And efforts should be exerted to restore diplomatic relations to
a better state," the ministry said in a statement, adding that similar
meetings would be held in future if required.
On Saturday, Qatar-based Al Jazeera television quoted Afghanistan's
acting foreign minister as saying that Taliban representatives asked the
U.S. side to lift a ban on Afghan central bank reserves.
It said the minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, also said Washington would
offer Afghans coronavirus vaccines and that the two sides discussed
"opening a new page" between the two countries.
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![](../images/101121pics/news_m25.jpg)
Taliban delegates stand in front of a Qatar Airways plane in an
unidentified location in Afghanistan, in this handout photo uploaded
to social media on October 8, 2021. Picture uploaded on on October
8, 2021. Social media handout/via REUTERS
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Biden administration officials told Reuters on Friday
the U.S. delegation would press the Taliban to release kidnapped
American Mark Frerichs. Another top priority would be to hold the
Taliban to their commitment not to allow Afghanistan to again become
a hotbed for al Qaeda or other extremists.
The Taliban took back power in Afghanistan in August, almost 20
years after they were ousted in a U.S.-led invasion for refusing to
hand over al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden following the Sept. 11,
2001, attacks on the United States.
The U.S. officials said the weekend meeting was a continuation of
"pragmatic engagements" with the Taliban and "not about granting
recognition or conferring legitimacy" to the group.
U.S. officials say they are in contact with dozens of Americans and
legal permanent residents who wish to leave Afghanistan and there
are thousands of U.S.-allied Afghans at risk of Taliban persecution
still in the country.
Washington and other Western countries are grappling with difficult
choices as a severe humanitarian crisis looms large in Afghanistan.
They are trying to work out how to engage with the Taliban without
granting the group the legitimacy it seeks, while ensuring
humanitarian aid flows into the country.
(Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Moataz
Abdelrahiem in Cairo, James Mackenzie in Islamabad; Editing by Ross
Colvin, Peter Cooney and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
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