The meetings between U.S. and Taliban representatives in Doha launched during the Trump Administration, leading to the U.S. removal of forces from Afghanistan in August, resumed the negotiations today in Doha, and will continue on Sunday. Following the first meeting, the Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid was quite positive, telling reporters that the humanitarian crisis was discussed: “We had a detailed discussion with the American delegation in Doha, and this discussion will continue all day today and into tomorrow as well. During this meeting, discussions were made about the humanitarian assistance as well, and this discussion will continue. Our aim is to have further meetings with the Americans and also with European delegates in the days to come, so that we can discuss and have their views and suggestions about the current situation in Afghanistan. We have told them time and again that a weak and an unstable government in Afghanistan is not in the interest of anyone,” he said.
Indicating that the U.S. side is at least considering the reversal of the deadly sanctions, and perhaps releasing the Afghan funds frozen in the U.S. Federal Reserve, the delegation from the U.S. side included not only CIA Deputy Director David Cohen and State Department Deputy Representative to Afghanistan Tom West, but also a representative of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Sarah Charles.
