US in talks with Taliban via political, security channels

Washington, August 24

The United States is in talks with the Taliban on a daily basis through political and security channels, and is also consulting allies and partners on the ongoing evacuation progress from the Kabul airport, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said. He, however, reiterated the US did not trust the Taliban.

CIA chief meets Talian leader Baradar

• US President Joe Biden sent the head of the CIA to meet the Taliban’s leader in the highest-level diplomatic encounter since the militant group took over the Afghan capital, two US sources said. CIA Director William Burns met Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul, a US official and a source familiar with government activity said on Tuesday. Both spoke on condition of anonymity.

Every aspect covered

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the conversation with the Taliban covered every aspect of what’s happening in Kabul and how they need to ensure that there is facilitated passage to the airport for American citizens and third-country nationals.

“We are in talks with the Taliban on a daily basis through both political and security channels. I’m not going to get into the details of those discussions here, to protect those discussions, which are covering a wide range of issues,” Sullivan told reporters at a White House news conference. Asked if President Biden was also likely to speak with the Taliban leadership, Sullivan said “that is not in contemplation at this time”.

The US, he said, was also consulting closely with its allies and partners on the evacuation and its progress. “We believe we are making enormous progress,” he said. Separately, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Special US Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and his team were in contact with the Taliban. —PTI