The US has agreed to supply humanitarian support to a desperately poor Afghanistan getting ready to an financial catastrophe, whereas refusing to provide political recognition to the nation’s new Taliban rulers, the Taliban stated.
The assertion got here on the finish of the primary direct talks between the previous foes because the chaotic withdrawal of US troops on the finish of August.
The US assertion was much less definitive, saying solely that the 2 sides “discussed the United States’ provision of robust humanitarian assistance, directly to the Afghan people.” The Taliban stated on Sunday that the talks held in Doha, Qatar, “went well,” with Washington releasing up humanitarian support to Afghanistan after agreeing to not hyperlink such help to formal recognition of the Taliban.
The United States made it clear that the talks had been by no means a preamble to recognition of the Taliban, who swept into energy Aug. 15 after the US-allied authorities collapsed.
State Department spokesman Ned Price referred to as the discussions “candid and professional,” with the US facet reiterating that the Taliban will probably be judged on their actions, not solely their phrases.
“The US delegation focused on security and terrorism concerns and safe passage for US citizens, other foreign nationals and our Afghan partners, as well as on human rights, including the meaningful participation of women and girls in all aspects of Afghan society,” he stated in an announcement.
Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen additionally informed The Associated Press that the motion’s interim international minister assured the US throughout the talks that the Taliban are dedicated to seeing that Afghan soil is just not utilized by extremists to launch assaults towards different nations.
On Saturday, nevertheless, the Taliban dominated out cooperation with Washington on containing the more and more energetic Islamic State group in Afghanistan.
IS, an enemy of the Taliban, has claimed duty for a variety of current assaults, together with Friday’s suicide bombing that killed 46 minority Shiite Muslims. Washington considers IS its best terrorist risk emanating from Afghanistan.
“We are able to tackle Daesh independently,” Shaheen stated when requested whether or not the Taliban would work with the US to include the Islamic State affiliate. He used an Arabic acronym for IS.
Bill Roggio, a senior fellow on the Foundation for Defense of Democracies who tracks militant teams, agreed the Taliban don’t want Washington’s assist to search out and destroy Afghanistan’s IS affiliate, generally known as the Islamic State in Khorasan Province, or ISKP.
The Taliban “fought 20 years to eject the US, and the last thing it needs is the return of the US. It also doesn’t need US help,” stated Roggio, who additionally produces the muse’s Long War Journal. “The Taliban has to conduct the difficult and time-consuming task of rooting out ISKP cells and its limited infrastructure. It has all the knowledge and tools it needs to do it.” The IS affiliate doesn’t have the benefit of protected havens in Pakistan and Iran that the Taliban had in its battle towards the United States, Roggio stated. However, he warned that the Taliban’s longtime help for al-Qaida make them unreliable as counterterrorism companions with the United States.
The Taliban gave refuge to al-Qaida earlier than it carried out the 9/11 assaults. That prompted the 2001 US invasion of Afghanistan that drove the Taliban from energy.
“It is insane for the US to think the Taliban can be a reliable counterterrorism partner, given the Taliban’s enduring support for al-Qaida,” Roggio stated.
During the assembly, US officers had been anticipated to press the Taliban to permit Americans and others to go away Afghanistan. In their assertion, the Taliban stated with out elaborating that they might “facilitate principled movement of foreign nationals.”