The UK authorities held the first official talks with the Taliban government since the Kabul takeover on Tuesday.
Simon Gass, Johnson’s high representative for Afghanistan, has held talks with senior members of Afghanistan’s new Taliban government in Kabul.
Taliban new government leaders have attended the meeting including Amir Khan Muttaqi, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and Abdul Salam Hanafi,.
On the other hand, Gass was accompanied by the charge d’affaires of the UK Mission to Afghanistan in Doha.
They “discussed how the UK could help Afghanistan to address the humanitarian crisis, the importance of preventing the country from becoming an incubator for terrorism, and the need for continued safe passage for those who want to leave the country,” the UK Foreign Office said.
“They also raised the treatment of minorities and the rights of women and girls.”
Gass was accompanied by Chargé d’Affaires of the UK Mission to Afghanistan in Doha.
The Taliban’s foreign ministry spokesperson, said the meeting “focused on detailed discussions about reviving diplomatic relations between both countries”.
The UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab has earlier said his country will not recognise the Taliban. But, he sees scope for dialogue.
Raab’s statements came during a diplomatic mission to Qatar to ensure the safe passage of the Britons and Afghans left behind.
At a press conference in the Qatari capital, Raab said a “direct engagement” was required with the Taliban.
“The reality is we will not be recognising the Taliban any time in the foreseeable future but I think there is an important scope for engagement and dialogue,” he said.
Raab has been under fire over the past few weeks over his handling of the events in Afghanistan.
