Taliban won't work with United States in combatting extremism within Afghanistan

The Taliban this week revealed that it has no plans to work with U.S. forces in combatting extremism in Afghanistan, a revelation that comes as the group plans a meeting with U.S. officials following the chaotic American withdrawal in August.

A Taliban spokesman told the Associated Press that the group plans to tackle Islamic State forces in Afghanistan "independently." The terrorist group's Afghanistan front, IS-K, has been battling the Taliban in that country for roughly six years.

A group of U.S. officials is scheduled to meet with Taliban officials this weekend, in Doha, Qatar. According to The Hill, this is the first face-to-face meeting with Taliban leaders since the U.S. withdrawal back in August.

The State Department hasn’t released an official itinerary for the trip, or an agenda of items to be discussed. However, CNN notes that some of the topics to be discussed are “the continued safe passage out of Afghanistan of US and other foreign nationals.”

According to State Department press secretary Nedd Price, so far U.S. officials in tandem with the Taliban, have evacuated 105 American Citizens and 95 visa recipients. The bulk of evacuations have occurred from private organizations.

The meeting comes at a time when the Taliban is trying to earn legitimacy on the world stage. 

However, a State Department official told Reuters that any such legitimacy is predicated on the way the Taliban governs its people.