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| head of the Central Intelligence Agency |
CIA director met the leader of the Taliban in Afghanistan on Monday
US President Joe Biden sent the head of the Central Intelligence Agency to meet the Taliban leader on Monday, two US sources said, in the highest-level diplomatic meeting since the militant group seized the Afghan capital.
A US official familiar with government activities told Reuters that CIA Director William Burns had met Taliban leader Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul. Both spoke on condition of anonymity.
The meeting came as the Biden administration evacuated US citizens and other allies amid chaos at Kabul airport ahead of an August 31 withdrawal deadline.
The Washington Post, citing US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, reported the meeting first.
A CIA representative said the agency had no comment. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Biden said last week that US forces might remain in Afghanistan beyond next week's deadline to evacuate Americans. Read more
Two Taliban sources told Reuters on Monday they would not extend the deadline for Western forces to leave.
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