Afghanistan deadline

[Jimbuna]

The head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) secretly met the leader of the Taliban in Kabul in Monday, sources have told US media.

Neither the Taliban nor the CIA would confirm the reported meeting between William Burns and Mullah Baradar.

US President Joe Biden has set a deadline of 31 August for American forces to leave Afghanistan. Allies - including the UK - want an extension.

US forces have been in Afghanistan since 2001, following the 9/11 attacks.

Sources have told US news outlets, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Associated Press and broadcaster NPR about the CIA-Taliban meeting.

However, they gave few details.

If confirmed, this would be the highest-level contact between the US and the Taliban since the militants took Kabul on 15 August, prompting the internationally backed Afghan government to flee.

About 5,800 US troops are currently guarding Kabul airport as thousands of foreign nationals and Afghans try to leave the country.

The Washington Post says the discussions are likely to have involved the deadline for the US military to conclude its airlift.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-58320516

[Jimbuna]

A Taliban spokesman has said Afghans should not go to the airport or try to leave the country.

At a press briefing, Zabihullah Mujahid also said that women should stay at home for now, for their safety.

US allies have warned they will not be able to evacuate all those fleeing the Taliban by 31 August.

The warning came as a G-7 summit was to hear allies press President Joe Biden to delay the withdrawal of US forces beyond that date.

But a senior US administration official told Reuters Biden was going to stick to the deadline.

[mapuc]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

The head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) secretly met the leader of the Taliban in Kabul in Monday, sources have told US media.

Neither the Taliban nor the CIA would confirm the reported meeting between William Burns and Mullah Baradar.

US President Joe Biden has set a deadline of 31 August for American forces to leave Afghanistan. Allies - including the UK - want an extension.

US forces have been in Afghanistan since 2001, following the 9/11 attacks.

Sources have told US news outlets, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Associated Press and broadcaster NPR about the CIA-Taliban meeting.

However, they gave few details.

If confirmed, this would be the highest-level contact between the US and the Taliban since the militants took Kabul on 15 August, prompting the internationally backed Afghan government to flee.

About 5,800 US troops are currently guarding Kabul airport as thousands of foreign nationals and Afghans try to leave the country.

The Washington Post says the discussions are likely to have involved the deadline for the US military to conclude its airlift.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-58320516

It doesn't surprise me at all. USA knows China is on its way to take over and this is not what USA is interested in China getting influence in another country in this case Afghanistan.
In the near future Taliban will be seen as good allied to USA and not as a group of fanatic Islamic terror group.

Markus