The US has not faced the Taliban since the August 15 capture of Kabul. Even the last American troops left Afghanistan. About two months after these incidents, the Taliban and the United States are meeting face to face again.
US officials will hold talks with the Taliban in Qatar on Sunday (October 10). This is the first meeting between representatives of the two sides since the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. The talks will focus on rescuing foreigners stranded in Afghanistan. The United States has said the talks will ensure women's rights in Afghanistan and put pressure on the Taliban to fight terrorism.
A number of issues will be discussed at the meeting, US officials said. They said the Taliban will be pressured to safely evacuate US citizens still held in Afghanistan and Afghans who have worked for the United States for the past 20 years. The release of abducted US citizen Mark Freirech will also be discussed. In addition, the Taliban will be asked to promise that al-Qaeda or any other militant group will not re-emerge in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan is in a severe financial crisis. In that case, the Taliban would be pressured to allow foreign humanitarian aid to enter the country, a State Department spokesman said. He said the talks were not about recognizing the Taliban at all. The US delegation will sit in this discussion to ensure the various interests of the United States. Among them, the rescue of foreign nationals, including Americans, stranded in Afghanistan. It will be attended by the US State Department, US aid agency USAID and security experts.