Mercer and Duncan Smith on Afghanistan and Taliban comments
BBC NewsAug 02, 2023
Taliban, US Hold First Official Talks Since Afghanistan Takeover
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Image copyright: Voice of America [via Wikimedia Commons]
The Facts
Taliban leaders and US officials wrapped up a two-day meeting in Qatar on Monday for the first time since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan two years ago.
The US State Department said that officials had told Afghanistan's Taliban during the talks that Washington was open to "technical dialogue" regarding the economy and "counternarcotics."
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
These talks don't represent a change in US policy of any kind but rather an attempt to address the egregious human rights abuses committed by the fundamentalist de facto rulers as well as the recent marginalization of Afghan women and girls. It's in the US' best interest to engage with the Taliban appropriately to solve these issues.
Establishment-critical narrative
Afghanistan is in a terrible situation, facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, so talks are necessary if the situation is to improve, as the main driver of this suffering has been the sanctions and banking restrictions imposed by the US. Given that the Taliban has succeeded in halting violence and preventing another destructive civil war, it's about time for the international community to change its approach.
