US Officials to Hold Talks with Taliban in Doha on Security, Human Rights, and Economy

US diplomats will hold rare direct talks with Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar, to discuss humanitarian issues and "critical interests" in Afghanistan, including economic stabilization, security, and efforts to counter narcotics production and trafficking. The US does not recognize the Taliban government and has imposed sanctions against the group. The Taliban has faced international condemnation for its restrictions on women's education and other human rights abuses. Afghanistan continues to face a humanitarian crisis, with almost half of its population receiving assistance from the World Food Programme. The Taliban has expressed a willingness to work with the US if sanctions are lifted. The US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 sparked domestic backlash and internal reviews criticizing both the Biden and Trump administrations for shortcomings in the operation.