Discussed normalising relations in meeting with US envoys: Taliban

The Taliban on Saturday said it discussed normalising relations between Afghanistan and the United States in a meeting with Trump administration officials.

The White House did not issue a statement describing the meeting or immediately respond to a request for comment. The Taliban statement said its foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, met with with Trump's special envoy for hostage response, Adam Boehler, and its special envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad. The Taliban released photographs from their talks.

“Comprehensive discussions were held on ways to develop bilateral relations between the two countries, issues related to citizens, and investment opportunities in Afghanistan,” the statement said. It did not say where or precisely when the meeting was held.

It said the US delegation also expressed condolences over the devastating earthquake in eastern Afghanistan late last month. The meeting came after the Taliban released US citizen George Glezmann, who was abducted while traveling through Afghanistan as a tourist.

He was the third detainee freed by the Taliban since President Donald Trump took office. It also came after the Taliban sharply criticised Trump's new travel ban that bars Afghans from entering the United States.