U.S. delegation to meet with Taliban officials in Doha, Qatar

October 9, 2021 carleyshaffer1 US 0

US President Joe Biden speaks about the September jobs report from the South Court Auditorium at the White House in Washington, DC, on October 8, 2021. - President Joe Biden put a gloss on disappointing job creation figures by focusing on a drop in unemployment, which he said marks a "sign that our recovery is moving forward." While the number of new jobs last month was far below expectations, the unemployment rate fell to 4.8 percent -- below five percent for the first time since March 2020, Biden said. (Photo by Olivier DOULIERY / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)

Joe Biden speaks about the September jobs report from the South Court Auditorium at the White House in Washington, D.C., on October 8, 2021. (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 1:59 PM PT – Saturday, October 9, 2021

Joe Biden sent a delegation of diplomats to meet with Taliban leaders in Qatar. The group engaged in their first face-to-face meeting with the terrorist group since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan on Saturday.

A Taliban spokesperson told reporters they held detailed discussions with the American delegation, including about humanitarian assistance. Talks are expected to continue throughout Saturday and Sunday.

“This meeting is a continuation of the pragmatic engagements with the Taliban on issues of U.S. vital national interest,” said a U.S. official.

1/4
Today I had meeting with ambassadors and representatives of various countries including EU, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Canada, UK and USA here in Doha. Other members of IEA delegation consisted of Mawlavi Matiul Haq,President of the Afghan pic.twitter.com/6aGALjKn6J

— Suhail Shaheen. محمد سهیل شاهین (@suhailshaheen1) October 7, 2021

Each side is set to discuss safe passage for U.S. residents held in the country as the government has continued its efforts to help American citizens still in the region.

The official also said in the Doha meeting, the U.S. would make sure to hold “the Taliban to its commitment not to allow terrorists to use Afghan soil to threaten the security of the United States or its allies.”