Taliban, US discuss confidence-building measures in Doha, Qatar: 2023

 

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Taliban leaders meet US officials in Qatar for first time since their return to power in Afghanistan

The two sides discussed confidence-building measures, including the lifting of sanctions and travel bans, as well as the return of Afghan central bank assets held abroad. They also discussed combating narcotics and human rights issues.

The Taliban and the United States held talks in Doha, Qatar on Monday, 31st of July. The schedule and content of the talks was decided earlier last week.

They met the first time since the group took power in Afghanistan two years ago.

The two sides discussed mainly:

• Confidence-building Measures, 
• The lifting of sanctions and travel bans, 
• The return of Afghan Central Bank assets held abroad. 
• Combating Narcotics and Human Rights issues.

In addition to this, the US StateDepartment said in a statement that its officials told the Taliban that Washington was open to technical talks on economic stability and repeated concerns about "deteriorating" human rights in the country.

The officials also called on the Taliban to reverse:

• Bans on Girls' Secondary Education, and
• Women's Employment, 

The discussion also took the matter of releasing detained Americans in Afghanistan.

Meeting of US Delegation with Other Officials of Afghanistan

The US delegation during the talks in Doha, met the representatives of the Afghan central bank and the Ministry of Finance.

The State Department have clarified them that it "took note" of falling inflation as well as rising exports and imports in 2023.

According to the statement, it said it would be open to "a technical dialogue regarding economic stabilisation issues soon".

The US had frozen about $7bn in Afghan central bank funds held in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York after the Taliban took power. 

Half of the funds now are in a Swiss-based Afghan Fund. 

A US-funded audit of the Afghan central bank failed to win Washington's backing for a return of assets from the trust fund.

How Talks US-Afghan Talks are seen?

The talks in Qatar are seen as a first step towards normalizing relations between the Taliban and the international community. 

However, it remains to be seen whether the two sides can reach an agreement on the key issues that have divided them.

(Courtesy: Al-Jazeera)