The US has agreed to provide humanitarian aid and support non-governmental organizations to support the Afghan people, the Taliban said after the two days of talks with American officials concluded on Sunday. This is the first time when officials of the two sides met for the first time since the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan. 

The US State Department issued a statement saying, they “discussed the United States’ provision of robust humanitarian assistance, directly to the Afghan people.” The Taliban will be “judged on its actions, not only its words,” the statement added.  

Concerns related to security, terrorism, and human rights were also discussed among other issues, the statement added. 

Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the spokesperson for the Taliban’s foreign ministry, said the talks held in Doha, Qatar, “went well,” with the US freeing up humanitarian aid to Afghanistan after agreeing not to link such assistance to formal recognition of the Taliban.

The talks, which were held in the backdrop of the growing serious humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, were in no way a preamble to recognition of the Taliban, US officials had made it clear prior to the talks. 

Meanwhile, Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid, who is also deputy minister for culture and information, said they have also discussed the international recognition of their regime. 

“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,” State Department spokesperson Ned Prince said in a statement.

Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban’s Doha-based spokesperson said that they had assured the United States that Afghan soil would not be used against any other country. However, Shaheen had ruled out any cooperation with the United States on tackling the ISKP which is posing a serious challenge to the Taliban. 

Furthermore, the Taliban delegation will not hold talks with European Union officials and envoys of western countries.  

(SAM)