A US delegation is set to meet members of the Taliban in Doha in the coming days, the State Department has announced.
Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West and Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls and Human Rights Rina Amiri are expected to meet “technical professionals from key Afghan ministries” while they are in Qatar to discuss “critical interests” in the country.
According to a Wednesday statement from the State Department, the two sides will discuss a host of issues including “humanitarian support for the people of Afghanistan, economic stabilisation, fair and dignified treatment of all Afghans, including women and girls, security issues, and efforts to counter narcotics production and trafficking”.
The Taliban, which stormed back to power following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, upended 20 years of US-aided progress across a wide spectrum of social issues, chief among them the rights of women and girls.
Since their return to power, the Taliban have barred women from attending university and girls have been barred from secondary education, a massive blow to American efforts throughout the 20-year conflict.
The international community has yet to formally recognise the Taliban, despite the fact the group has controlled the country for nearly two years.
The State Department said the planned meeting “does not indicate any change in policy of the United States”.
“We have been very clear that we will engage with the Taliban appropriately when it is in our interest to do so,” State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.
“This is not intended to mean any kind of indication of recognition or any kind of indication of normalisation or legitimacy of the Taliban.”
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
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Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Race 3
Produced: Salman Khan Films and Tips Films
Director: Remo D’Souza
Cast: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqib Salem
Rating: 2.5 stars
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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ASHES SCHEDULE
First Test
November 23-27 (The Gabba, Brisbane)
Second Test
December 2-6 (Adelaide Oval, Adelaide)
Third Test
December 14-18 (Waca Ground, Perth)
Fourth Test
December 26-30 (Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne)
Fifth Test
January 4-8, 2018 (Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney)
