The U.S. has agreed to supply humanitarian assist to a desperately poor Afghanistan on the point of an financial catastrophe, whereas refusing to offer political recognition to the nation’s new Taliban rulers, the Taliban stated Sunday.
The assertion got here on the finish of the primary direct talks between the previous foes for the reason that chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops on the finish of August.
There was no instant remark from the U.S. on the weekend assembly.
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Taliban rule out working with U.S. to include IS forward of 1st talks since takeover
The Taliban stated the talks held in Doha, Qatar, “went properly,” with Washington releasing up humanitarian assist to Afghanistan after agreeing to not hyperlink such help to formal recognition of the Taliban.
The USA made it clear that the talks have been by no means a preamble to recognition of the Taliban, who swept into energy Aug. 15 after the U.S.-allied authorities collapsed.
Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen additionally informed The Related Press that the motion’s interim international minister assured the U.S. in the course of the talks that the Taliban are dedicated to seeing that Afghan soil shouldn’t be utilized by extremists to launch assaults towards different international locations.
On Saturday, nevertheless, the Taliban dominated out cooperation with Washington on containing the more and more energetic Islamic State group in Afghanistan.
IS, an enemy of the Taliban, has claimed duty for a lot of latest assaults, together with Friday’s suicide bombing that killed 46 minority Shiite Muslims. Washington considers IS its best terrorist risk emanating from Afghanistan.
“We’re in a position to deal with Daesh independently,” Shaheen stated when requested whether or not the Taliban would work with the U.S. to include the Islamic State affiliate. He used an Arabic acronym for IS.
Invoice Roggio, a senior fellow on the Basis for Protection of Democracies who tracks militant teams, agreed the Taliban don’t want Washington’s assist to search out and destroy Afghanistan’s IS affiliate, often called the Islamic State in Khorasan Province, or ISKP.
The Taliban “fought 20 years to eject the U.S., and the very last thing it wants is the return of the U.S. It additionally doesn’t want U.S. assist,” stated Roggio, who additionally produces the muse’s Lengthy Conflict Journal. “The Taliban has to conduct the tough and time-consuming job of rooting out ISKP cells and its restricted infrastructure. It has all of the data and instruments it must do it.”
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The IS affiliate doesn’t have the benefit of secure havens in Pakistan and Iran that the Taliban had in its struggle towards the USA, Roggio stated. Nevertheless, he warned that the Taliban’s longtime help for al-Qaida make them unreliable as counterterrorism companions with the USA.
The Taliban gave refuge to al-Qaida earlier than it carried out the 9/11 assaults. That prompted the 2001 U.S. invasion of Afghanistan that drove the Taliban from energy.
“It’s insane for the U.S. to suppose the Taliban is usually a dependable counterterrorism accomplice, given the Taliban’s enduring help for al-Qaida,” Roggio stated.
In the course of the assembly, U.S. officers have been anticipated to press the Taliban to permit Individuals and others to depart Afghanistan. Of their assertion, the Taliban stated with out elaborating that they might “facilitate principled motion of international nationals.”
© 2021 The Canadian Press
