UK government officials hold talks with Taliban in Kabul

Head of Afghan mission, Taliban leaders discuss humanitarian crisis, terrorism, allowance of safe passage

UK government officials on Tuesday travelled to Afghanistan for talks with the interim Taliban government in Kabul.

Sir Simon Gass, the UK prime minister’s high representative for Afghan transition, and Martin Longed, the charge d’affaires of the UK mission to Afghanistan, met with senior Taliban commanders and leaders and discussed an array of pertinent matters.

“They met senior members of the Taliban, including Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund and Mawlawi Abdul-Salam Hanafi,” a government spokesperson said in a statement.