The head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Taliban deputy leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar had a secret meeting in Kabul, The Washington Post reported. The meeting was held on Monday between William Burns, the head of the US Federal Intelligence Agency, and Baradar.
One week ago, the Biden administration held high-level talks with the Taliban, who have been fighting the United States in Afghanistan for 20 years. The CIA has not commented on the matter. The meeting may include discussions on extending the August 31 deadline for withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan, according to a report in The Washington Post.
Burns, one of Biden’s most trusted diplomatic, has played a key role in foreign service. About 11 years ago, Baradar was arrested by the CIA on a US-Pakistan mission and imprisoned for eight years.
Taliban leader Baradar is said to have begun peace talks with the United States as soon as he was released in 2018. On Monday, the Taliban said it could not extend the August 31 deadline for the withdrawal of US troops.
Taliban spokesman Sahail Shaheen told Sky News that the United States should be held accountable for the “consequences” if the withdrawal was not completed within the deadline. The group said it would not give any extra time to Western countries, including the United States and Britain, to continue the rescue operation in Afghanistan.
By Muna Chand
