By Aaron Miller-
The director of the CIA met with the Taliban’s top political leader in Kabul, an official was aimed at delaying the August 31 deadline, it has been claimed.
The precise nature of the discussions have not been made public, but whispers by U.S politicians indicate that the secret meeting between CIA Director, William Burns, was specifically aimed at delaying the deadline for all evacuations to take place.
According to some sources, the meeting under the instruction of Joe Biden, was aimed at achieving an extension to the August 31 deadline for close withdrawal , after the Taliban made it clear they won’t be extending that deadline.
The Taliban has so far shown no signs of softening their position.
The UK and France have added their voices to the goal of US military to continue evacuation beyond the deadline so more people can be rescued, and there is a growing feeling that U.S might might be necessary to force the necessary extension.
The US president, Joe Biden, rejected pleas from the UK for the humanitarian airlift to continue beyond 31 August at a virtual meeting of G7 leaders on Tuesday, confirming the end of the road as far as negotiations are concerned.
The clock is ticking for those who worked for the US and other western forces to be evacuated, because they will suffer most from the wrath of the Taliban once they refuse any further departures from Afghanistan.
The Taliban had earlier threatened “consequences” if the US didn’t completely withdraw from Afghanistan, including leaving the Kabul airport, which is currently the only site under the control of the American military and being used for evacuation. The militant Islamist group, however, did not specify what those consequences would be.
Doubts
A Taliban spokesman today raised doubts that an American-led evacuation could continue beyond an Aug. 31 deadline to allow more time for Western powers to get their citizens and vulnerable Afghans out of the country.
The desperation at which people have rushed to escape Afghanistan has been grim, and has seen many people endure beatings by thuggish members of the Taliban. Some have been lucky enough to board a flight and escape the country’s chaotic situation as flew away from the nightmare of Afghanistan.
The Biden administration has maintained regular contact with Taliban officials throughout the course of the evacuation process, both on the ground in Afghanistan and in Doha, Qatar. The contact with the Taliban has not achieved much yet, on the contrary, they are becoming more bullish in their tone by the hour.
CNN reported on Tuesday that the Qataris helped facilitate the meeting between Burns and Baradar. The source added that Monday’s meeting demonstrates the significant role the Qataris are now playing in the future of Afghanistan.
The meeting would be the highest-level contact between the US and the Taliban since the militants took Kabul on 15 August, and is hoped will achieve an extension of the deadline of August 31
About 5,800 U.S troops are currently guarding Kabul airport as thousands of foreign nationals and Afghans try to leave the country.
Mullah Baradar -one of the four men who founded the Taliban in 1994- who spent eight years in prison is the hardened leader of the Taliban political office in Qatar. In February 2020, he signed the Doha agreement on the withdrawal of US and Nato troops.
Despite assurances by the Taliban to ensure equality of treatment in Afghanistan and establish women’s rights, there have been credible reports of “summary executions” and restrictions on women in areas under Taliban control. The brutality of the Taliban is the main reason there is anxiety for the safety of those who don’t make it out of the country by August 31.