The United States Goverment has urged Taliban to reverse policies responsible for deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly for women, girls, and vulnerable communities.
In a statement released by State Department Spokesman, Mathew Miller on Monday, stating the United States Representative meeting with senior Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar.
The meeting which has the attendants of the Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West, alongside Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights Rina Amiri, and Chief of the U.S. Mission to Afghanistan based in Doha Karen Decker to continue discussions regarding critical interests.
U.S. officials expressed grave concern regarding detentions, media crackdowns, and limits on religious practice and United States support for the Afghan people’s demands for their rights to be respected and for their voices to shape the future of the country.
They identified areas for confidence building in support of the Afghan people while expressed deep concern regarding the humanitarian crisis and the need to continue to support aid organizations and UN bodies delivering assistance consistent with humanitarian principles.
The American delegation 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.
U.S. officials 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.
They also 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.
The American delegation acknowledged that there has been a decrease in large-scale terrorist attacks against Afghan civilians. U.S. officials pressed for the immediate, unconditional release of detained U.S. citizens, noting that detentions were a significant obstacle to positive engagement.
The United States went to take 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.
U.S. officials registered serious concerns regarding continuing trafficking and sale of processed opiates and synthetic drugs, while the American delegation voiced openness to continue dialogue on counternarcotics.