Overview

• The U.S. team led by Adam Boulter, with Zalmay Khalilzad among the delegates, met Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul on Sept. 13.
• Taliban readouts said discussions covered political and economic ties plus detainee exchanges, and they urged continued engagement; Washington has not issued a formal statement.
• Pakistan’s prime minister, Shahbaz Sharif, after a Sept. 13 attack in South Waziristan claimed by the TTP, publicly told the Taliban to choose between Pakistan and the group, a position Kabul rejects by denying TTP presence.
• Intelligence officials and residents in Bannu alleged Pakistani jets struck a school and a long-unused jirga hall used by militants on Sept. 13, with casualties reported and no confirmation from the army or militant groups.
• Arab and Islamic governments opened meetings in Doha to signal support for Qatar after an Israeli strike reportedly targeting Hamas figures, with a leaders’ session expected to follow foreign ministers’ talks.