Taliban-US hold first official talks since Afghanistan takeover
Taliban leaders have engaged in formal discussions with United States officials in Qatar for the first time since their return to power in Afghanistan two years ago.
The two-day delegation-level talks concluded on Monday, as reported by a statement from Afghanistan's interim Foreign Ministry.
The Afghan delegation, led by interim Foreign Minister Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi, included representatives from the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Afghanistan, and officials from the Afghan Embassy.
Meanwhile, the US delegation, comprising 15 members, was headed by Thomas West, Washington's special representative for Afghanistan.
During the two-day talks the two sides discussed confidence-building measures, including the possibility of lifting sanctions and travel bans. Additionally, they addressed the crucial matter of returning Afghan central bank assets held abroad.
The delegations also engaged in discussions about combating the narcotics trade and addressing human rights issues in the country, according to Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The US State Department released a statement expressing their openness to technical discussions on economic stability and reiterating their concerns about the deteriorating state of human rights in Afghanistan.
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021 when the Western-backed government collapsed following the chaotic withdrawal of US forces after 20 years of conflict in the country.
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