This statement was made at the conclusion of direct talks between former foes following the chaotic withdrawal of U.S troops at August’s end.
The U.S. statement was not as definitive and stated only that both sides had “discussed the United States’ provision for robust humanitarian aid, directly to Afghanistan people.”
According to the Taliban, the Doha, Qatar talks “went well”, with Washington allowing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, after agreeing to not link this assistance to formal recognition.
The United States stated that the talks were not a prelude to the recognition of the Taliban. They swept into power on Aug. 15, after the U.S.-allied government had collapsed.
Ned Price, a spokesperson for the State Department, described the discussions as “candid” and professional. The U.S. side reiterated that the Taliban will not be judged on the basis of their words but their actions.
He stated that the U.S. delegation was focused on security and terrorist concerns, safe passage for U.S. citizens and our Afghan partners, and on human rights including the meaningful participation by women and girls in all aspects Afghan society.
Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban political spokesman, also stated to The Associated Press that the interim foreign minister of the movement assured the U.S. that they are committed to ensuring that Afghan soil is not used to launch attacks on other countries.
However, on Saturday, the Taliban disapproved of Washington’s cooperation in containing the growing Islamic State group in Afghanistan.
IS, an enemy to the Taliban, claimed responsibility for several recent attacks, including Friday’s suicide bombing in which 46 Shiite Muslims were killed. Washington regards IS as the greatest terrorist threat from Afghanistan.
Shaheen stated, “We can tackle Daesh independent,” when Shaheen was asked if the Taliban would cooperate with the U.S. in containing the Islamic State affiliate. He used Arabic for IS.
Bill Roggio is a senior fellow at Foundation for Defense of Democracies and tracks militant groups. He agreed that the Taliban don’t need Washington’s assistance to hunt down and destroy Afghanistan’s IS affiliate, the Islamic State of Khorasan Province or ISKP.
The Taliban “fought for 20 years to expel the U.S., and it doesn’t need the U.S. return.” Roggio, who produces the foundation’s Long War Journal, said that it doesn’t also need U.S. assistance. “The Taliban must take on the time-consuming and difficult task of eradicating ISKP cells and its limited infrastructure. It has all the tools and knowledge it needs.
Roggio stated that the IS affiliate does not have the same advantage over the Taliban in their fight against the United States. Roggio warned, however, that the Taliban’s support of al-Qaida makes them unreliable partners in counterterrorism with the United States.
Before the attacks on 9/11, the Taliban fled to al-Qaida. This led to the 2001 invasion by the United States of Afghanistan, which drove the Taliban from power.
Roggio stated that it was absurd for the U.S. think that the Taliban could be a reliable partner in counterterrorism, given their support for al Qaida.
The meeting was an opportunity for U.S. officials to pressure the Taliban to allow Americans to leave Afghanistan. The Taliban stated that they would facilitate principled movement of foreign nationals, but did not elaborate.
