US Special representative for Afghanistan Thomas West met with Foreign Minister of the Afghan Government Amir Khan Muttaqi and highlighted the international community's unified opposition to the Taliban which is growing as a result of recent restrictions on Afghan women and girls.

US envoy Thomas West meets Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi

US special representative to Afghanistan Thomas West said "legitimacy and support must be earned by actions" while referring to the Taliban.&nbsp;

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1/5 The Taliban’s letter to Congress earlier this week misconstrued the facts re Afghanistan’s economic &amp; humanitarian crisis. Afghanistan was unfortunately already suffering a terrible humanitarian crisis before mid-August, made worse by war, years of drought, &amp; the pandemic.
— U.S. Special Representative Thomas West (@US4AfghanPeace) <a href="https://twitter.com/US4AfghanPeace/status/1461698124695719940?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Washington had earlier made it clear that if the Taliban claimed power by military force rather than negotiation then&nbsp;crucial non-humanitarian aid would be cut.

"We will continue clear-eyed, candid diplomacy with the Taliban," West said in a tweet, adding," The US will continue to support the Afghan people with humanitarian aid. We've provided $474 million this year."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nobel-winner-malala-fears-taliban-will-keep-girls-out-of-school-429355">Also Read:&nbsp;Nobel winner Malala fears Taliban will keep girls out of school</a>

The Taliban called for the release of frozen assets with Afghanistan witnessing unprecedented economic turmoil. The Taliban had written an open letter to the US Congress urging them to unfreeze assets.

West said: "The Taliban’s letter to Congress earlier this week misconstrued the facts regarding Afghanistan’s economic and humanitarian crisis."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/watch-afghan-girl-alleges-beating-by-taliban-commander-for-refusing-sex-taliban-post-video-to-refute-claim-429216">Watch: Afghan girl alleges beating by Taliban commander for refusing sex</a>

"Afghanistan was unfortunately already suffering a terrible humanitarian crisis before mid-August, made worse by war, years of drought&nbsp;and&nbsp;the pandemic," the US special representative to Afghanistan added.

Taliban's foreign minister had said that the biggest challenge facing Afghanistan was financial insecurity and warned that economic turmoil could lead to trouble abroad. The Biden administration has seized assets which belong to the Afghan central bank as civil servants have been unpaid for months and the treasury is unable to pay for imports.

West pointed out that the US and its allies are "making every effort to help the UN and humanitarian actors scale up to meet needs this winter."

(With inputs from Agencies)

US special representative to Afghanistan Thomas West said "legitimacy and support must be earned by actions" while referring to the Taliban. 1/5 The Taliban’s letter to Congress earlier this week misconstrued the facts re Afghanistan’s economic & humanitarian crisis.

US special representative to Afghanistan Thomas West said "legitimacy and support must be earned by actions" while referring to the Taliban. 1/5 The Taliban’s letter to Congress earlier this week misconstrued the facts re Afghanistan’s economic & humanitarian crisis. Afghanistan was unfortunately already suffering a terrible humanitarian crisis before mid-August, made worse by war, years of drought, & the pandemic. — U.S. Special Representative Thomas West (@US4AfghanPeace) November 19, 2021 × Washington had earlier made it clear that if the Taliban claimed power by military force rather than negotiation then crucial non-humanitarian aid would be cut. "We will continue clear-eyed, candid diplomacy with the Taliban," West said in a tweet, adding," The US will continue to support the Afghan people with humanitarian aid. We've provided $474 million this year." Also Read: Nobel winner Malala fears Taliban will keep girls out of school The Taliban called for the release of frozen assets with Afghanistan witnessing unprecedented economic turmoil. The Taliban had written an open letter to the US Congress urging them to unfreeze assets. West said: "The Taliban’s letter to Congress earlier this week misconstrued the facts regarding Afghanistan’s economic and humanitarian crisis." Watch: Afghan girl alleges beating by Taliban commander for refusing sex "Afghanistan was unfortunately already suffering a terrible humanitarian crisis before mid-August, made worse by war, years of drought and the pandemic," the US special representative to Afghanistan added. Taliban's foreign minister had said that the biggest challenge facing Afghanistan was financial insecurity and warned that economic turmoil could lead to trouble abroad. The Biden administration has seized assets which belong to the Afghan central bank as civil servants have been unpaid for months and the treasury is unable to pay for imports. West pointed out that the US and its allies are "making every effort to help the UN and humanitarian actors scale up to meet needs this winter." (With inputs from Agencies)

Legitimacy and support must be earned by actions: US to Taliban

The State Department has announced that the top US ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad is stepping down, less than two months after the chaotic US departure from Afghanistan and Taliban control of the nation.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Monday that Khalilzad will be replaced by his deputy, Tom West, and that West will work closely with the US embassy, which is currently situated in Doha, on US interests in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

"As Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad steps down from his role, I extend my gratitude for his decades of service to the American people," Blinken’s statement said. 
 
Watch | South Asia Diary | The Taliban return to Bamiyan

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"I thank Ambassador Khalilzad for his service and welcome Special Representative West to the role."

According to Politico, Khalilzad stated in his resignation letter that "the political agreement between the Afghan government and the Taliban did not go as planned." 
 
Watch | Regional powers engage with new rulers of Afghanistan

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The reasons behind this are too difficult to discuss here, but I shall do so in the following days and weeks."&nbsp;

"Going forward, I plan to contribute to the discussion and debate about not only what happened but what should be done next," he said according to Politico.

His departure followed his absence from the Biden administration's first formal negotiations with the Taliban following the US withdrawal, which took place in Doha earlier this month.

Khalilzad, who was born in Afghanistan, has held the position since 2018 and oversaw the discussions with the Taliban that resulted in the February 2020 deal for the departure of US soldiers this year.

Despite his Republican allegiance, Khalilzad was retained after Biden beat Donald Trump and chose to withdraw.

He then urged the hardline armed group and former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's Western-backed administration to reach a political settlement after decades of conflict.&nbsp;

In mid-August, the government collapsed as the Taliban swept through the country and marched unopposed into the capital, Kabul.

(With inputs from agencies)

The State Department has announced that the top US ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad is stepping down, less than two months after the chaotic US departure from Afghanistan and Taliban control of the nation.

The State Department has announced that the top US ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad is stepping down, less than two months after the chaotic US departure from Afghanistan and Taliban control of the nation. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Monday that Khalilzad will be replaced by his deputy, Tom West, and that West will work closely with the US embassy, which is currently situated in Doha, on US interests in Afghanistan. "As Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad steps down from his role, I extend my gratitude for his decades of service to the American people," Blinken’s statement said. Watch | South Asia Diary | The Taliban return to Bamiyan "I thank Ambassador Khalilzad for his service and welcome Special Representative West to the role." According to Politico, Khalilzad stated in his resignation letter that "the political agreement between the Afghan government and the Taliban did not go as planned." Watch | Regional powers engage with new rulers of Afghanistan The reasons behind this are too difficult to discuss here, but I shall do so in the following days and weeks." "Going forward, I plan to contribute to the discussion and debate about not only what happened but what should be done next," he said according to Politico. His departure followed his absence from the Biden administration's first formal negotiations with the Taliban following the US withdrawal, which took place in Doha earlier this month. Khalilzad, who was born in Afghanistan, has held the position since 2018 and oversaw the discussions with the Taliban that resulted in the February 2020 deal for the departure of US soldiers this year. Despite his Republican allegiance, Khalilzad was retained after Biden beat Donald Trump and chose to withdraw. He then urged the hardline armed group and former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's Western-backed administration to reach a political settlement after decades of conflict. In mid-August, the government collapsed as the Taliban swept through the country and marched unopposed into the capital, Kabul. (With inputs from agencies)

Zalmay Khalilzad steps down as US envoy to Afghanistan in wake of chaotic withdrawal, Thomas West to take over

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US envoy Thomas West meets Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi

Legitimacy and support must be earned by actions: US to Taliban

Zalmay Khalilzad steps down as US envoy to Afghanistan in wake of chaotic withdrawal, Thomas West to take over