A United States delegation and the interim government of Afghanistan discussed Taliban efforts to fulfill security commitments, the State Department said on Monday.

“US officials took note of the Taliban’s continuing commitment to not allow the territory of Afghanistan to be used by anyone to threaten the United States and its allies, and the two sides discussed Taliban efforts to fulfill security commitments,” it said.

The statement was released after the meeting between two sides in Qatar for the first time since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan two years ago.

Dialogue was “two-way, detailed, candid,” according to West who stressed the need for continuing the talks in support of the Afghan people and to protect interests.

US officials identified areas for confidence building in support of the Afghan people. The American delegation reiterated their “deep concern” regarding the humanitarian crisis and the need to continue to support aid organisations and UN bodies delivering assistance consistent with humanitarian principles.

The delegation urged the Taliban to reverse policies responsible for the “deteriorating” human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly for women, girls, and vulnerable communities. They expressed “grave concern” regarding detentions, media crackdowns, and limits on religious practice.

The US expressed support for the Afghan people’s demands for their rights to be respected and for their voices to shape the future of the country.

The delegation also met with representatives of the Afghan Central Bank and Afghan Ministry of Finance to discuss the state of the Afghan economy and the challenges that the banking sector faces. They took note of recent data indicating declining inflation, growth of merchandise exports and imports in Afghanistan in 2023, and voiced openness to a technical dialogue regarding economic stabilization issues soon.

The American delegation acknowledged that there has been a decrease in large-scale terrorist attacks against Afghan civilians. But they pressed for the immediate and unconditional release of detained US citizens, noting that such detentions were a “significant obstacle” to positive engagement.

The US also took note of reporting indicating that the Taliban’s ban on opium poppy cultivation resulted in a significant decrease in cultivation during the most recent growing season. They also registered serious concerns regarding continuing trafficking and sale of processed opiates and synthetic drugs. The American delegation voiced openness to continue dialogue on counternarcotics.

‘Confidence-building measures’

The two sides discussed confidence-building measures during the two-day talks, including the lifting of sanctions and travel bans as well as the return of Afghan central bank assets held abroad, Al Jazeera reported while quoting a spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

No country has formally recognised the Taliban since its return to power. The group took over in August 2021 after the Afghanistan’s Western-backed government collapsed in the aftermath of the US’s withdrawal from the country after 20 years of conflict.

More to follow…