WASHINGTON – American officials are meeting former Afghan Taliban leadersamid intensifying efforts by the Trump administration to seek a negotiatedsettlement of the country’s longest war, according to a media report.
The talks have occurred at undisclosed locations in Qatar, Afghanistan andthe United Arab Emirates, the NBC News claimed, citing Taliban sources.
Quoting one negotiator, it said Taliban delegations had been joined by”never more than five” Americans for a series of meetings in hotel suitesin Doha, Qatar.
The gatherings were “very friendly” with “tea and cookies” being served,the report said, Quoting the “Doha meeting participant”.
The negotiator said security is “very tight in and outside,” with hotelstaff not allowed to enter.
According to the report, the Taliban often use a “network of formercommanders and political leaders” as interlocutors. Some of those used asinterlocutors have previously been imprisoned by the US or Afghanistan andno longer have active roles.
The Taliban delegates are taking steps to not be identified by theintelligence services of Russia, China and Arab countries.
“We don’t go to the hotel together,” the negotiator said. “We never go tothe meeting place first. Once they (the Americans) reach the meeting place,then we go there one by one. We use the elevator for some of the floors andthen take the stairs out of security considerations.”
The source said hotels were chosen because the Taliban and US officialsinitially “didn’t trust each other.”
Quoting an Afghanistan-based Taliban commander, the report said thatanother gathering happened earlier this month in the United Arab Emirates.
“Americans are meeting with our former members in the UAE and Kabul,” hesaid. “Those former Taliban then convey to us their messages from the talkswith multiple options.”
“Our stance is quite clear and that’s the same old one,” he said. “The USwould need to withdraw its military forces from Afghanistan and exchangeprisoners and let the Afghan people decide their issues as per theirculture and traditions,” the Taliban commander said.
US officials were taking an “unprecedented” interest in the peace processin recent months, the commander added.
A State Department spokesperson did not confirm that any meetings had takenplace, but did say the Trump administration was eager to resolve theconflict.
“The US is exploring all avenues to advance a peace process in closeconsultation with the Afghan government,” the spokesperson said.
The US has lost more than 2,400 soldiers in Afghanistan since late 2001,when it invaded the country after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
President Donald Trump is keen to withdraw the approximately 14,000American troops who remain in Afghanistan, a promise he made on thecampaign trail.
Last month, Pompeo said the US was ready to “support, facilitate andparticipate” in discussions with the Taliban over the role of internationalforces in Afghanistan but that the peace process would be Afghan-led.