A U.S. delegation met with senior Taliban representatives from Kabul in Doha, Qatar, on October 9 and 10.
"This meeting is a continuation of the pragmatic engagements with the Taliban on issues of US vital national interest," a U.S. State of Department official told CNN.
Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Tom West was the senior State Department representative in the US delegation. The group reportedly also included representatives from the US Agency for International Development and others.
Al Jazeera says the Afghan delegation that came to Doha was led by the Afghan acting foreign minister, Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi.
"During this meeting, discussions were made about the humanitarian assistance as well and this discussion will continue," Mujahid said, according to CNN.
Mujahid added that their aim was to have further meetings with the Americans and also with European delegates in the days to come, so that they could discuss and had their views and suggestions about the current situation in Afghanistan.
"We have told them time and again that a weak and an instable government in Afghanistan is not in the interest of no one," he said, according to CNN.
According to Al Jazeera, the Afghan delegation also came to Doha seeking financial assistance that comes with any sort of international recognition.
The Afghan delegation was reportedly asking the US to end economic sanctions and to “unfreeze” some US$10bn worth of assets.
The U.S. Department of State noted on October 10 that the U.S. delegation focused on security and terrorism concerns and safe passage for U.S. citizens, other foreign nationals and our Afghan partners, as well as on human rights, including the meaningful participation of women and girls in all aspects of Afghan society.
The two sides reportedly also discussed the United States’ provision of robust humanitarian assistance, directly to the Afghan people. The discussions were candid and professional with the U.S. delegation reiterating that the Taliban will be judged on its actions, not only its words.
Al Jazeera says neither the US nor the Taliban have said if any agreements were reached during the talks.
The weekend talks in Doha were the first face-to-face meeting between the two sides since the Taliban took over Afghanistan on August 15.
The meeting comes as the US government continues efforts to bring American citizens and permanent residents and vulnerable Afghans out of the country nearly six weeks after the rushed and chaotic US military evacuation and withdrawal came to an end.
