Washington (Kubha News)—The U.S. State Department announced its intention to engage with the Taliban when it serves the interests of the United States.
Vedant Patel, deputy spokesperson for the department, stated in a press conference that such interactions with the Taliban are crucial to bolstering the national interests of both Afghanistan and the United States.
“When it comes to our engagement with the Taliban, we will engage when it is in the interest of the United States. This is the best way to not only protect the national interests of the United States but also to protect the people of Afghanistan,” he said. “Engagement allows us to speak directly with the Taliban, and this is an opportunity for us to continue to push for the immediate and unconditional release of American nationals in Afghanistan, including those we have identified as being arrested by mistake.”
Patel highlighted that these interactions offer a platform to address the Taliban’s commitment to combating terrorism, with human rights consistently on the agenda.
Regarding the visit of U.S. Under Secretary of Political Affairs John Bass to Doha and Islamabad, Patel said that discussions with Qatari and Pakistani officials will focus on supporting Afghanistan and common security interests in the region.
“We expect him to meet senior Pakistani officials and discuss a wide range of regional and bilateral issues,” Patel said.
He underscored that the United States and Pakistan share common goals in fighting threats to regional security. “We support Pakistan’s efforts to fight terrorism and ensure the safety and security of its citizens in a manner that promotes the rule of law and protection of human rights,” Patel added.
Engagement with Pakistan on security issues includes high-level talks on counterterrorism, funding for robust counterterrorism capabilities, and facilitating a series of U.S.-Pakistan military engagements.