US In Continuous Talks With Taliban, Consulting Allies For Evacuation From Kabul: NSA Sullivan

New Delhi: The United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Tuesday said that the US is in talks with the Taliban on a daily basis and is also consulting allies and partners on the ongoing evacuation progress from the Kabul airport.

As quoted by news agency PTI, Sullivan while addressing the reporters at a White House news conference said, “We are in talks with the Taliban on a daily basis through both political and security channels. I’m not going to get into the details of those discussions here, to protect those discussions, which are covering a wide range of issues.”

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The official reportedly said that as the US does not trust the Taliban, it is consulting closely with its allies and partners on the issue of the evacuation and its progress.

“The President has been very clear about his views of the Taliban. You’ve asked him repeatedly, Do you trust these guys?’ And he’s told you repeatedly, No, I do not.’ Of course, he does not,” he said.

Sullivan further said that President Biden speaking with the Taliban leadership “is not in contemplation at this time” while the conversation with the Islamist group covers every aspect of what’s happening in Kabul right now and what’s happening at the airport; on how they need to ensure that there is facilitated passage to the airport for American citizens, third-country nationals, and so forth. “We’ll continue those conversations with them.

Meanwhile, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price responded to a question stating that  Special US Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and his team is in constant contact with the Taliban and its leadership, who have now flown to Afghanistan.