Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, who is based in Doha, revealed to The Associated Press the meetings will also likely involve discussion of the 2020 agreement between the Islamic fundamentalist and Washington that paved the way for the final US withdrawal.
“Yes there is a meeting . . . about bilateral relations and implementation of the Doha agreement,” confirmed Shaheen. “It covers various topics.” The US officials will seek to hold the Taliban accountable to its promise that it would allow foreign nationals and Afghans who assisted US-led military forces to leave Afghanistan, the AP reported.
Biden’s administration has acknowledged that dozens of Americans and legal permanent residents were left behind following the conclusion of the withdrawal Aug. 30. It is also believed that thousands of Afghan allies remain in hostile territory, though the administration has not provided an exact count.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said Thursday that 105 American citizens and 95 green card holders had left since the end of August on flights facilitated by the US government. That number had not changed in over one week.
Military veterans and other individuals have helped others leave the country on charter flights, while some have gotten out across land borders. Price acknowledged Thursday that the State Department was in contact with “dozens of Americans in Afghanistan who wish to leave.”
WATCH: "WE WILL OPEN YOU UP LIKE A SOFT PEANUT"
WATCH: HOW WAS JURY SELECTION HANDLED IN TRUMP'S TRIAL?
A LOOK INSIDE DEMOCRATS' PLAN TO WIN BACK THE HOUSE WITH RECORD INVESTMENT
DEMS' LAST-MINUTE BID TO SAVE SEATS AMID SOUTHERN BORDER TURMOIL!
ICE BLUNDER: AFGHAN NATIONAL SUSPECTED OF TERROR TIES ESCAPES U.S. TRACKING PROGRAM IN DAYS...
FOX NEWS COLUMNIST TEARS APART MTG'S "RECKLESS AGENDA"
ARMY FINANCIAL ADVISOR'S DOUBLE LIFE: HOW HE DUPED GRIEVING MILITARY FAMILIES FOR MILLIONS
MAYOR ERIC ADAMS POINTS FINGER AT BIDEN: BLAMES ADMINISTRATION AMID MIGRANT PROTESTS
TESLA'S UNSETTLING SHAKE-UP: MUSK ADMITS MISTAKE IN SEVERANCE PACKAGES
HOUSE REPUBLICANS SLAM OMAR'S CAMPUS ANTISEMITISM REMARKS AFTER DAUGHTER'S ARREST
DEM MAYOR BEGS WEALTHY TO JOIN FIGHT AGAINST HOMELESSNESS
SAFETY FIRST? USC VALEDICTORIAN SPEAKS OUT AFTER GRADUATION SPEECH CANCELLED
DR. PHIL'S CONTROVERSIAL PREDICTION: PARANOID OR TIME TO PREP?
MEET THE DEAD RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRE WHO NEVER ACTUALLY DIED...
THE NPR SAGA CONTINUES: WHISTLEBLOWER TAKES NEXT HUGE STEP...
HEARTBREAK AND OUTRAGE: ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT DRIVER LINKED TO FATAL CRASH OF SENATOR'S AIDE
RACISM ALLEGATIONS ROCK CONNECTICUT'S PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE: CHIEF IN THE HOT SEAT
RARE ENCOUNTER: JAKE TAPPER SNAGS CNN INTERVIEW WITH SPEAKER JOHNSON, HERE'S HOW IT WENT...
US officials have cited the difficulty of verifying flight manifests without any American officials on the ground in Afghanistan to help, along with other hold-ups, in response to complaints from lawmakers of both parties that the evacuation process is going too slowly.
The American delegation, which reportedly will include officials from the State Department, US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the intelligence community, will additionally call for the Taliban to release Illinois civil engineer Mark Frerichs, who was abducted in February 2020 by the Taliban-linked Haqqani network.
The US contingent further intends to implore the Taliban to honor the rights of women and girls — many of whom are being blocked from returning to jobs and classrooms — as well as offer humanitarian agencies free access to areas of Afghanistan in dire need of intervention.
Officials emphasized that the meeting did not indicate that Washington was leaning toward recognizing the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. “We remain clear that any legitimacy must be earned through the Taliban’s own actions,” one US official told Reuters. “They need to establish a sustained track record.”
Discover alternative ideas that will make you think
Engage in mind bending debate
Earn points, rise in rank, have fun
