U.S. officials to meet with Taliban representatives in Doha this week
WASHINGTON (AA) – U.S. officials will meet Taliban members and “technocratic experts” from key Afghan ministries this week in the Qatari capital of Doha.
According to the State Department, topics to be discussed include economic stabilization, fair and dignified treatment of all Afghans, including women and girls, security issues, and efforts to combat drug production.
The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan on Aug. 15, 2021, when officials of the U.S.-backed government fled the country.
State Department Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel said the meeting meant “no change in policy.”
“We have been very clear that we will engage with the Taliban appropriately when it is in our interest to do so. This is not intended to mean any kind of indication of recognition or any kind of indication of normalization or legitimacy of the Taliban,” said Patel.
Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West and Special Representative for Afghan Women, Girls and Human Rights Rina Amiri will travel to Astana, Kazakhstan, and Doha from July 26 to 31.
In Astana, they will meet with counterparts from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to promote women’s economic empowerment in Afghanistan.
This group was established in 2015 under former U.S. President Barack Obama. It is considered the most important platform for U.S. dialog with the Central Asian states.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
