The Doha talks between the US and Taliban- Explained

In Backgrounder
October 14, 2021
Mahnoor Islam
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The weekend talks in Doha marked the first time the United States and the Taliban came face to face since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. The talks focused on security, terrorism concerns, human rights concerns especially with regards to women and girls as well as safe evacuations of US citizens, foreign nationals,

The weekend talks in Doha marked the first time the United States and the Taliban came face to face since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. The talks focused on security, terrorism concerns, human rights concerns especially with regards to women and girls as well as safe evacuations of US citizens, foreign nationals, and other Afghan partners from Afghanistan. The talks also discussed the US’ provision of humanitarian assistance directly to the Afghan people. As per a statement made by a US official, the talks between the Taliban delegates and the US were ‘candid and professional.’

The US official also said that the US delegation included officials from the Department of the State, USAID, and other governmental agencies. As per media reports, the US delegation also included intelligence officials. The Taliban-appointed foreign minister Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi has stated that while the group wants to improve its relations with the international community, they don’t want anybody’s interference in the country’s internal politics.

Mr. Ned Price, spokesman for the US Department of State further stated that the US further clarified its stance regarding the Taliban which is that the Taliban will be judged based on their actions and not just their words. ‘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’ he said.

According to the Taliban, the two-day talks were positive and the Taliban hope the talks pave way for the recognition of the Afghan government by the International community. The Afghan delegation which is being led by Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi, came to Doha seeking financial assistance that comes with any sort of international recognition. The delegation has also asked the US to end the economic sanctions and to unfreeze assets that are worth $10 billion.

Since the Taliban’s takeover, funding from international financial institutions was cut off which included the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and Asian Development Bank. According to the Taliban, the group said that it needs funding in order to pay government employees as well as for services to citizens who continue to suffer from an economic and humanitarian crisis.

Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi also said that both parties agreed to uphold the terms of the Doha Agreement which was signed in 2020. As part of the Afghan peace process, two peace treaties were signed. The first treaty was signed between the Afghan government and the Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin militant group in 2016 while the second peace treaty was signed between the US and the Taliban in 2020 during Donald Trump’s regime and talked about the withdrawal of all NATO forces from Afghanistan, the Taliban’s pledge to prevent Al-Qaeda from operating in areas under the Taliban’s control and the lifting of sanctions by the US and the UN against the Taliban.

Furthermore, the Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen also said that the Taliban were committed to ensuring that terrorism does not take place on Afghanistan soil. As per the US, the State Department has said that the US would use these talks as a way to affirm that they ‘continue to hold the Taliban to their commitments.’

Whether both the parties will reach an agreement is a question that can only be answered after some time has passed. Neither the US nor the Taliban has mentioned if any agreement has been reached during the talks. The US officials have described the talks as a continuation of the ‘pragmatic engagements’ with the Taliban and ‘not about granting recognition or conferring legitimacy to the Taliban.’