OSLO • In their first visit to Europe since returning to power in Afghanistan, members of the Taliban began landmark talks with Western diplomats in Oslo yesterday to discuss the humanitarian crisis in the country.
The international community has, however, insisted that the Taliban must respect human rights before aid to the country can resume.
The Taliban delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, is holding talks with representatives of the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Italy, the European Union and Norway.
The closed-door discussions, facilitated by Norway, are being held at the Soria Moria Hotel, on a snowy hilltop outside Oslo.
Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation has deteriorated drastically since last August, when the fundamentalists stormed back to power 20 years after being toppled. International aid came to a halt, worsening the plight of millions of people already suffering from hunger after several severe droughts.
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