U.S. and allied officials have begun holding talks with each other and with the Taliban on how to exert influence in Afghanistan once Western forces leave in days, leaving local partners and possibly some Americans stranded in the country.
The U.S. and Taliban have begun discussing the possibility of a U.S. diplomatic presence in Afghanistan after Aug. 31 to allow the U.S. to continue evacuations, U.S. officials said.
U.S. military officials had held talks with the Taliban while relying on the usual enemy force to provide security at Kabul airport, where a U.S.-led emergency evacuation has taken place.
Discussions between the US and the Taliban over a possible diplomatic presence after the August 31 evacuation deadline set by President Biden represent an extension of these talks on airport security. The Biden administration has vowed to continue to help U.S. citizens and Afghan partners leave the country after the August 31 withdrawal deadline set by Mr. Biden.
In an interview with CBS earlier this week, Ross Wilson, the U.S. ambassador in office in Afghanistan, said the two sides have held talks in Qatar on “possible ways forward.”