Trump’s hostage affairs envoy meets top Afghan diplomat in Kabul

ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump’s Hostage Affairs envoy Adam Boehler met Taliban-led interim Foreign Minister Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi in Afghanistan on Thursday, officials in Kabul said.

Boehler was accompanied by former US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, said Hafiz Zia Ahmad, deputy spokesman of Afghan Foreign Ministry.

This is first public meeting of any Trump administration official and interim administration in the war-torn nation.

The two sides discussed bilateral relations, release of detainees, and the provision of consular services to Afghans in the US, Ahmad said on X.

Soon after Trump was inaugurated on Jan. 20, Taliban had released two detained Americans in a prisoner swap deal with Washington.

The Taliban also released an American national and Delta Airlines mechanic George Gleismann, from more than two years in captivity.

Muttaqi described the visit by the US delegation as “a good development in bilateral relations."

“It is important that Afghanistan and the United States are able to resolve issues through dialogue,” Muttaqi told the visiting delegation from Washington.

The two sides “should overcome the effects of the 20-year war and have positive political and economic relations with each other,” the minister said.

Boehler described the progress in the prisoner issue between Afghanistan and the US as “a good step towards building trust,” said Ahmad, the ministry spokesman.

The envoy lauded the measures taken against narcotics and strengthening security in Afghanistan.

Boiler emphasized the continuation of talks between the two sides and called it “important to strengthen relations through talks," the ministry spokesman added.