The U.S. Department of State announced today, Wednesday, that U.S. officials will meet with a delegation from the Taliban and "technical experts" from key Afghan ministries during a visit to Doha this week. They will discuss issues related to security, drugs, and women's rights.
In a statement, it was noted that "the U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan Thomas West and the U.S. Special Envoy for Women and Girls and Human Rights in Afghanistan Rina Amiri will travel to the capital of Kazakhstan and then to the Qatari capital Doha from July 26 to 31, where they will meet with the Taliban delegation."
The U.S. State Department explained that "the officials will also meet in Nur-Sultan with officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to discuss matters concerning Afghanistan." Additionally, the American officials will meet with civil society activists in the field of women's rights.
The State Department added that they "will discuss providing humanitarian support to Afghanistan, security issues, women's rights, stabilizing the Afghan economy, and efforts to combat drug production and trafficking."
Deputy spokesperson for the State Department Vedant Patel stated that "the meetings do not indicate any signal of recognition, normalization of relations, or legitimization of the Taliban." Patel expressed U.S. concerns regarding human rights violations and the marginalization of women and girls in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
He added, "This does not signify any change in U.S. policy; we have been very clear that we will engage with the Taliban in a manner that is accountable when it is in our interest."
