In first contact by a US president, Trump speaks with a top Taliban official by phone
by Rob Crilly
| March 03, 2020 04:23 PM
President Trump said he spoke with a leader of the Taliban on Tuesday and that they had a "very good talk."
Their conversation marked the first time an American president has spoken to a member of the militant group that harbored Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda figures who were behind the 9/11 attack.
His comments come days after the United States and the Afghan insurgent group signed a troop withdrawal agreement.
"We had a good conversation," Trump told reporters at the White House. "We've agreed there's no violence. We don't want violence."
Earlier, a Taliban spokesman said Trump had spoken by phone to the group's chief negotiator.
"The President of the United States Trump @realDonaldTrump held a phone conversation with the Political Deputy of the Islamic Emirate, the respected Mullah Baradar Akhund. Details later," said Zabihullah Mujahid on Twitter.
On Saturday, Trump said he planned to meet Taliban leaders in the "near future."
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/in-first-contact-by-a-us-president-trump-speaks-with-a-top-taliban-official-by-phone
