The US has reportedly shared that it is willing to communicate with the Taliban and keep the “channels of communication” running. The US had already laid out conditions for the Taliban to follow if they truly want the international community to recognise them.
The said conditions include:
- Form an inclusive government
- Acknowledging the rights of Women in Afghanistan
- Curbing extremism
- The Afghan government must uphold the rights of its people, including minorities
- Must not harbour terrorists like Daesh or al-Qaeda
According to The New York Times, the United States will monitor the Taliban on whether they allow freedom of travel for Afghans and foreigners with valid documents, women’s and minority rights.
“Every step we take will be based not on what a Taliban-led government says, but what it does to live up to its commitments,” said Blinken.
The US and other western powers are in agreement on recognition of the Taliban as long as the set conditions are met. For the Taliban, this is important in order to allow aid and loans to enter Afghanistan with ease, as aid flows were disrupted once they took control of Kabul.
However, when the question comes to providing a seat to the Taliban at the United Nations, American ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield said, “We are not in a place yet where we are prepared to recognize the Taliban.”
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Sec Blinken to visit Qatar and Germany
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday he would travel to Qatar on Sunday to meet with the country’s leaders and thank them for their help with evacuees from Afghanistan, and later go to Germany for a ministerial meeting.
Blinken told a news conference at the State Department he would meet with Afghans and workers in the Qatari capital Doha “who are doing truly heroic work around the clock.”
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He said he would travel to the Ramstein Air Base in Germany where he also would meet with Afghans. The ministerial meeting will be held virtually with partners, including more than 20 countries that have a stake in relocating and settling Afghans.
Blinken also said the U.S. government was maintaining contact with the Taliban. “We continue to maintain channels of communication with the Taliban, on issues that are important,” Blinken said.
The State Department was “in constant contact” with Americans remaining in Afghanistan who still wish to leave the country, Blinken said.
“We have dedicated teams assigned to each of these American citizens to be in constant contact with them. We’re providing them with very tailored, very specific guidance,” he said.
On September 5, I will depart for Doha, Qatar and Ramstein, Germany. This trip will underscore the importance of cooperation on Afghanistan and allow me to thank our staff and German and Qatari friends for their efforts in supporting the largest airlift in history.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) September 3, 2021
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Almost all of those remaining are dual nationals whose homes are in Afghanistan and whose extended families live there, Blinken said.
“It’s no surprise that deciding whether or not to leave the place they call home is a wrenching decision,” he said.
Blinken also described the department’s efforts since President Joe Biden took office in January to speed the processing of special visas for Afghans who worked with U.S. forces during the 20-year war, thousands of whom are still in Afghanistan.
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Via Reuters with inputs from GVS