According to two U.S. officials, CIA Director William J. Burns met in Kabul on Monday with the top Taliban leader in Kabul, while the United States continues to transport U.S. citizens and their Afghan allies out. Afghanistan until 31 August.
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 Biden, which reflects the administration’s view that Burns is the most experienced veteran diplomat and one of the most confident of Biden’s team. .
Another official called the meeting “an exchange of views on what needs to be done” before 31 August.
The CIA declined to comment to CNN about the meeting.
CNN has contacted the White House for comment.
Some more background: Baradar and then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo witnessed the signing of a historic U.S.-Taliban agreement last year that had launched the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Former President Trump and Baradar spoke by phone shortly after the agreement was signed.
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.
CNN’s Betsy Klein and Michael Callahan contributed to this report.