Taliban demands an agreement reached with sent on an exchange of prisoners while looking for better ties

The Taliban said on Saturday that they had reached an agreement with the Americans in an exchange of prisoners as part of an effort to normalize relations between the United States and Afghanistan.

They did not give details of an exchange of real detainees and the White House did not comment on the meeting in Kabul or the results described in a Taliban statement.

The Taliban published photographs of their conversations, showing their Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, with the special envoy of President Trump for the hostage response, Adam Boehleras well as Zalmay Khalilzad, who served as a special envoy of the United States for Afghan peace during Trump’s first administration.

On the issue of prisoners, Boehler “confirmed that the two parties would carry out an exchange of detainees,” said the Taliban statement. No information was provided about how many people are in each country, their identities or the reasons and circumstances of their imprisonment.

The meeting came after the Taliban, in March, American citizen launched George Glezmannwho was kidnapped while traveling through Afghanistan as a tourist. He was the third detainee released by the Taliban Since Trump assumed the position.

While answering the reporter’s questions in Tel Aviv on Saturday, the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said that American envoys have had conversations with the Taliban for some time, but did not confirm the details of any agreement.

“[Boehler] I went there to explore what is possible, “said Rubio.” Obviously, it will be the president’s decision in terms of operations or exchanges, but we certainly want the Americans or anyone to be illegally released. “

The conversations occurred after the Taliban abruptly criticized Trump’s new prohibition of travel that Prohibit Afghans entering the United States.

“Integral discussions were maintained on ways of developing bilateral relations between the two countries, issues related to citizens and investment opportunities in Afghanistan,” said the Taliban.

The statement added that the US delegation also expressed condolences about the devastating earthquake in eastern Afghanistan At the end of last month, it is believed that it killed at least 2,200 people.

• Taliban
• Afghanistan