It is critical that the international community remain united in its approach to Afghanistan, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Thursday.
Price said this after China hosted the meeting of the so-called extended “Troika” that included the United States, China, Russia, and Pakistan. He said that the countries have a good degree of leverage with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA).
“It is incumbent on all of these countries to use that leverage to push the Taliban (IEA) in the right direction,” Price said.
In a separate statement announcing additional humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan. IEA had promised to allow all girls to return to classrooms as the school year begins in March, but those beyond sixth grade were told to wait until a second notice. In reaction, the US canceled planned talks with IEA in Doha and the World Bank projects in Afghanistan worth $600 million.
Bilal Karimi, the deputy spokesman for IEA, said that IEA is open to negotiating with foreign governments on issues that have external dimensions.
“But as a responsible government and as a sovereign nation, we have the right to own our country and have a system that is based on our traditions, culture, national and Islamic values,” Karimi said.
