Samuel Case, FISM NEWS
American and Taliban officials met in Doha, Qatar over the weekend, in the first diplomatic meeting with the terrorist regime since U.S. forces withdrew from the region. Officials said the meeting was about continuing “pragmatic engagements” with the Taliban “not about granting recognition or conferring legitimacy” to them.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said the talks centered around terrorism and human rights concerns, as well as evacuating American citizens, green card holders, and Afghan allies trapped in the region.
Before the meeting a Taliban spokesman said the group would not work with the U.S. to fight terrorism in the region. The spokesman said that the Taliban was able “to tackle [ISIS] independently,” despite the fact that there have been several accounts of bombings in Afghanistan at the hands of opposing terrorist factions.
“The U.S. delegation focused on security and terrorism concerns and safe passage for U.S. 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,” Price said in a statement.
On the humanitarian front, the Taliban said the U.S. has agreed to provide aid to the Afghan people. But, the U.S. has not officially confirmed a commitment to send aid, only saying that the officials “discussed the United States’ provision of robust humanitarian assistance, directly to the Afghan people.”
Upon taking control of Afghanistan, after 20 years out of power, the Taliban has returned to its brutal reign, despite promising moderation. Since U.S. troops left the region in late August, reports have emerged of public executions, criminal mutilation, and Christian persecution, along with the general oppression of women.