THE United States will resume talks with the Taliban next week in Qatar, addressing among other issues the fight against terrorism and the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

The American delegation will be led by the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan, Tom West, for the planned two weeks of discussions, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Tuesday.

The two sides will discuss “our vital national interests,” which include counterterrorism operations against the Islamic State group and Al-Qaida, humanitarian assistance, Afghanistan’s devastated economy, and safe passage out of Afghanistan for U.S. citizens and Afghans, who worked for the United States during the 20 year war.

West met two weeks ago in Pakistan with representatives of the hard-line Islamist movement that seized power in August as U.S. forces completed their withdrawal.

A first session between the two sides was held Oct. 9-10 in the Qatari capital Doha, where U.S. diplomats overseeing relations with Afghanistan transferred after the Taliban takeover.

West on Friday reiterated U.S. conditions for the Taliban to receive U.S. financial and diplomatic support: fight terrorism, install an inclusive government, respect the rights of minorities, women and girls, and provide equal access to educations and employment.

He said the United States would continue to have dialogue with the Taliban and for now provide only humanitarian aid.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, foreign minister of the Taliban government, which is not recognized by the international community, called last week in an open letter to the U.S. Congress for the release of Afghan assets frozen by the U.S.

The United States has frozen more than US$9 billion in assets belonging to Afghanistan’s central bank, delivering a heavy blow to the vulnerable economy of the war-torn country.

(SD-Agencies)