US, Taliban meet in Qatar
(VOVWORLD) - US officials and Taliban representatives are meeting in Doha, Qatar, their first face-to-face meeting at a senior level since Washington pulled its troops from Afghanistan and the hardline group took over the country.
 Amir Khan Muttaqi, Taliban senior leader and new Afghanistan Foreign Minister (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
A US foreign official told reporters on Friday that the US will ask the Taliban to ensure continued safe passage for US citizens and others out of Afghanistan. Another top priority will be to hold the Taliban to its commitment that it will not allow Afghanistan to become a hotbed for terrorists to threaten the security of the US and its allies.
“We will certainly press the Taliban to respect the rights of all Afghans including women and girls and to form an inclusive government with broad support," the US official said.
The Islamic State on Friday evening claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing earlier the same day at a mosque in Kunduz province, northeastern Afghanistan, which killed 46 people and injured more than 140 others.