Taliban, US hold talks in Qatar on lifting sanctions: Ministry
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The Taliban government holds talks with the US Special Representative in Qatar to discuss the removal of travel and other restrictions.
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Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. (AFP)
A delegation of Taliban officials led by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met with US Special Representative Thomas West and an accompanying delegation in Qatar on Monday, covering a wide range of issues at both the social and technical committee levels, Taliban Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said.
"In the meeting, the two sides discussed confidence building, taking practical steps thereof, removing blacklists [and] lifting sanctions, unfreezing DAB [Da Afghanistan Bank] reserves, the economic stability of Afghanistan, countering narcotics, and issues on human rights," Balkhi wrote on Twitter.
IEA delegation led by FM Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi including representatives from the MoF, DAB & officials from the Afghan Embassy & Political Office in Qatar, met with the US SR for Afghanistan Tom West & accompanying senior fifteen-member delegation from various departments pic.twitter.com/QK6JJE8J88
— Abdul Qahar Balkhi (@QaharBalkhi) July 31, 2023
The talks took place over two consecutive days in the Qatari capital of Doha and brought together officials from Afghanistan's finance ministry, the central bank, and the Afghan embassy in Qatar, as well as a 15-stong US delegation "from various departments," the spokesperson said.
The Taliban delegation stressed the significance of confidence-building activities, advocating the removal of blacklists and reward lists in order to foster a climate of trust and cooperation. They also emphasized the importance of freeing Afghanistan's bank reserves in order for the country to become self-sufficient and less reliant on foreign aid.
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The meeting will also discuss humanitarian relief, free travel to Afghanistan, and consular services for Afghan residents living in various areas of the world, according to the release. Both parties demonstrated a desire for further engagement, mutual understanding, and contact.
The Taliban took power in August 2021, deposing the US-backed government as foreign soldiers left the nation.
In September, the organization formed a new administration led by Mohammad Hasan Akhund, who previously served as foreign minister under Taliban control and has been sanctioned by the UN since 2001.
