US To Conduct First Face-To-Face Talks With Taliban Since Withdrawal Of US Troops From Afghanistan

However, the US stressed that the talks do not indicate that the US has recognized the Taliban as a legitimate government in Afghanistan.

New Delhi: The United States will conduct a face-to-face talk with senior Taliban representatives on Saturday and Sunday in Qatar’s capital of Doha, the state department spokesperson informed news agency AFP. This will be the first formal talks between the US and the Taliban since the US has withdrawn its troops from Afghanistan.

However, the US stressed that the talks do not indicate that the US has recognized the Taliban as a legitimate government in Afghanistan. "We remain clear that any legitimacy must be earned through the Taliban's own actions," the spokesperson was quoted by AFP in its report.

Hinting at its intention to get the Taliban to form an inclusive government and respect the rights of women and girls, the US state department spokesperson said, "We will press the Taliban to respect the rights of all Afghans, including women and girls, and to form an inclusive government with broad support."

"As Afghanistan faces the prospect of a severe economic contraction and possible humanitarian crisis, we will also press the Taliban to allow humanitarian agencies free access to areas of need," he added. 

Earlier on Thursday, the US state department spokesperson Ned Price had said that 105 US citizens and 95 green-card holders had left Afghanistan over the flights facilitated by the US. However, dozens of American citizens along with various Afghan allies are still stuck in war-torn Afghanistan and wants to leave the country. In this regard, the US will press the Taliban to allow US citizens and Afghan allies during the 20-year military operation to leave the country.

(With inputs from AFP)