William Burns Meeting With Taliban: Facts You Need to Know

CIA Director William Burns reportedly had secret meetings in Kabul, Afghanistan, with Abdul Ghani Baradar, leader of the Taliban.

Report: Burns Met With Taliban Leader. “CIA Director William J. Burns held a secret meeting Monday in Kabul with the Taliban’s de facto leader, Abdul Ghani Baradar, in the highest-level face-to-face encounter between the Taliban and the Biden administration since the militants seized the Afghan capital, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy.” [Washington Post]

AP Source: Meeting Occurred During Kabul Airport Evacuation. “The official told The Associated Press the meeting between Burns and Abdul Ghani Baradar came amid the ongoing evacuations at the Kabul airport.” [AP]

CIA Declined Comment On Meeting. “The CIA declined to comment on the meeting, but discussions between Burns, one of Biden’s most experienced diplomats, and Baradar likely involved the Aug. 31 deadline for the US military to conclude what the president has called “one of the largest, most difficult airlifts in history,” the paper said.” [NY Post]

US Officials Fear Taliban, ISIS Attacks During Evacuation. “Senior U.S. officials have warned that terrorists from Islamic State’s Afghan affiliate could attack the crowds massed outside the airport. Officials also fear the Taliban and its allies, who have not attacked U.S. military personnel during the evacuation, could change their posture after Aug. 31.” [WSJ]