Khalilzad: Detention of US Citizens Major Obstacle to US-Taliban Relations

DID Press: Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. special representative for Afghanistan, stated that the detention of two American citizens in Afghanistan is the biggest obstacle to improving relations between Washington and Taliban.

Khalilzad mentioned that although the U.S. is “very satisfied” with the Taliban’s efforts in fighting terrorism and the Islamic State (ISIS), the issue of prisoners has hindered progress in bilateral relations, In an interview with an Indian network.

Taliban continues to confront ISIS in Afghanistan, and many of its members have been expelled and are now in Pakistan, He added.

Khalilzad also emphasized that concerns regarding human rights and the political participation of non-Taliban Afghans remain unresolved, and these issues continue to pose challenges in engaging with the Taliban.