By U.S. Department of State from United States
US officials and Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan engaged in discussions on Thursday, March 20 in Kabul, an event characterized as an unexpected visit.
The delegation included the US special envoy and Zalmay Khalilzad, the former Afghan reconciliation envoy who was instrumental in the Doha negotiations, as reported by The Khorasan Diary on X.
The talks reportedly aimed at enhancing political and economic relations, although specific details were not made public. This visit comes amid speculation regarding the Trump administration’s reevaluation of its strategy for engaging with the Taliban.
This meeting follows a previous occurrence where a delegation from the American private sector interacted with Afghan officials and local stakeholders, marking the first such engagement since the Taliban assumed control from the US-supported government two years ago.
The Taliban regained authority in August 2021 after the withdrawal of US-led NATO forces, concluding a two-decade conflict with the group.
Since their return to power, the Taliban have implemented a stringent interpretation of Islamic law, which includes restrictions on girls’ education beyond the sixth grade, limitations on women’s employment opportunities—including in humanitarian organizations—and prohibitions on their access to public spaces such as parks, gyms, and bathhouses.
These policies have impeded the international community’s recognition of the Taliban government. Nevertheless, the group asserts that they have restored stability and significantly curtailed illicit drug production, claiming that their governance is in harmony with Afghan cultural and religious values.
