When It’s in American interest, US can engaged with Taliban
News Desk :
WASHINGTON: When it is in American interest, the US can be engaged with the Taliban to do so. Although, the US is not ready to recognize the Taliban government.
At a Thursday afternoon’s news briefing, State Department spokesperson Ned Price also said that Pakistan shared concerns of the international community on Afghanistan and wanted to protect the gains of the last 20 years.
“There’s a distinction … between broad issues like recognition and legitimacy and practical engagement,” said Mr. Price while explaining how the Biden administration plans to engage with the Taliban.
State Dept says Pakistan working to protect gains of last 20 years
“I think you’ve heard from us, you’ve heard from other governments, that when it is in our interest to engage the Taliban on the basis of our national self-interest, we will do that,” he said, adding that at the ministerial meeting “we heard a similar sentiment from other countries involved as well”.
Asked to comment on Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan, Mr Price said Islamabad conveyed its position on Afghanistan at a recent ministerial meeting co-hosted by the US and Germany.
“Pakistan was engaged in the ministerial meeting, and we heard from the Pakistanis very similar sentiment to what we heard from other countries that participated,” he said. “There was widespread agreement, including from our Pakistani partners, that the gains of the last 20 years should not be squandered.”
US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas co-hosted the ministerial meeting on Afghanistan on Wednesday. Both Pakistan and India participated in the meeting along with a dozen other countries and international groups, like the European Union, Nato and the United Nations.
