"I think one of the things that the [State] Secretary feels very strongly about is trying to develop – get to a place where we can have some sort of a peace process," State Secretary spokesperson Heather Nauert said at a press briefing in late July, commenting on State Secretary Rex Tillerson’s views on how to resolve the conflict in Afghanistan.
"And that means actually sitting down and talking with members of the Taliban and starting to facilitate that kind of dialogue," Nauert added.
According to Kabul-based expert Faruq Farda, the possible talks between the US and the Taliban group are unlikely to be productive.
"After the US invaded Afghanistan, it faced a number of problems and has finally decided to start negotiating with the Taliban. Washington sees such talks as the only way to resolve the crisis. The US was one of the originators of the Taliban. Now the organization is divided into smaller groups, which makes it difficult to control," Farda told Sputnik Afghanistan.
According to the expert, what the US is doing in Afghanistan is a "policy of double standards." While reiterating its commitment to peace, Washington, at the same time, wants to achieve geopolitical ambitions in the region.
"The US wants to turn the Taliban against Russia’s peaceful efforts. Moreover, the US involvement has not resolved a single problem in Afghanistan," Farda said.
