Afghanistan evacuation: CIA director meets Taliban leader in Kabul on Monday

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The Biden administration has been in regular contact with Taliban officials throughout the evacuation process, both on the ground in Afghanistan and in Doha, Qatar.

But the covert meeting, first reported by the Washington Post on Tuesday, between Burns and Taliban co-founder and deputy director Abdul Ghani Baradar, is the highest-level direct exchange since the militant group took control of the capital. reported a U.S. official. he told CNN about it.

The meeting also underscores the administration’s view that they need a clearer understanding of the Taliban’s position on various issues, as the clock is approaching the August 31 deadline to withdraw troops from the country, he said. say the official.

The U.S. official told CNN that the meeting took place under the direction of President Joe Biden, which reflects the administration’s view that Burns is the most experienced veteran diplomat and one of the team’s most trusted veteran diplomats. of Biden.

Another official called the meeting “an exchange of views on what needs to be done” before 31 August.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said during a press conference in Kabul that the Taliban cannot confirm that Baradar has met with the CIA director, but they are meeting with all embassies in Kabul.

The CIA declined to comment to CNN about the meeting.

CNN has contacted the White House for comment.

The U.S. has evacuated thousands of people fleeing the country from Kabul airport as the Taliban regain control. But the process has been chaotic and deadly.
While Biden remains confident that the United States will complete its mission on August 31, he revealed on Sunday that there are discussions about the possibility of extending the deadline, but the Taliban indicated on Monday that they consider that date to be firm.

“The United States must adhere to the elimination of troops from Afghanistan on this date. Otherwise, it will be a clear violation,” a Taliban spokesman who told CNN told the channel CNN on August 31, adding that in the event of a delay, “our management will make an appropriate and necessary decision.[s]. “

The Taliban have described August 31 as a “red line” and with threatened consequences if the White House moves to delay the US withdrawal.
Meanwhile, Biden is expected to face pressure from foreign allies to expand the schedule.
CNN previously reported that the U.S. military is advising Biden that it must decide before Tuesday whether it should exceed the deadline beyond Aug. 31, according to a defense official directly familiar with the discussions. The president has not yet publicly committed to this step.

The Biden administration has relied on the Taliban to cooperate with evacuation efforts, and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Monday that the U.S. is in talks with the Taliban “daily” through political channels and security.

After the Taliban regained control of Kabul, Baradar, who heads the group’s political committee, had returned to Afghanistan last week after being out of the country for 20 years.
The Taliban’s chief negotiator, Baradar, and then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were one of the witnesses to the Taliban’s signing of the United States last year for a historic deal that had triggered the withdrawal. of American troops from Afghanistan. And Baradar spoke with former President Donald Trump by phone shortly after the agreement was signed.

Burns went on to lead the intelligence agency with decades of experience as a U.S. State Department diplomat, including being at the center of peace negotiations in the Middle East.

“If anyone knows how to negotiate, how to build relationships, how to get good results internationally, it’s Bill Burns,” Democratic Rep. Jim Himes, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, told CNN on New Day. “.

Himes told CNN that the meeting between Burns and Baradar is “probably a good thing,” because the United States “is obviously in a very tough situation on the ground.”

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNN’s Sandi Sidhu, Betsy Klein and Michael Callahan contributed to this report.

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