US Secy Of State Antony Blinken Sees 'Global Unity' On Taliban After Talks With Pak, China

<p><strong>New York: </strong>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who met with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi and held talks with ministers&rsquo; of the four other veto-wielding Security Council members, has said he believed the world was united on pressing the Taliban, adding &ldquo;there is very strong unity of approach and unity of purpose&rdquo;.</p> <p>Blinken met with Qureshi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday.</p> <p><strong>READ</strong>: <strong><a href="https://ift.tt/3kEdceu Punishments Including Executions, Cutting Of Hands Will Return In Afghanistan, Says Taliban Leader</a></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;&ldquo;I met with Pakistani Foreign Minister about our bilateral cooperation and Afghanistan&rsquo;s future,&rdquo; he tweeted.</p> <p>[tw]https://twitter.com/SecBlinken/status/1441189655492239361[/tw]</p> <p>Earlier on Wednesday, the US Secretary of State held talks with ministers of the four other veto-wielding Security Council members, including China and Russia.</p> <p>Stating the Taliban says that it seeks &ldquo;legitimacy and &ldquo;support&rdquo; from the international community, Blinken said: &ldquo;The relationship that it has with the international community is going to be defined by the actions it takes.&rdquo;</p> <p>The US Secretary of State also reiterated for the Taliban his country&rsquo;s priorities, including allowing the Afghans and foreigners to leave, respecting the rights of women, girls and minorities and not letting Afghanistan be used again by extremists such as Al Qaeda.</p> <p>He highlighted &ldquo;the importance of coordinating our diplomatic engagement&rdquo; in talks with his Pakistani counterpart, the State Department said.</p> <p>Opening his meeting with the US Secretary of State, Qureshi said &ldquo;we have to find a way of collectively working to achieve our common objective, which is peace and stability&rdquo;, Dawn reported.</p> <p>Islamabad has called for engagement with the Taliban and the unfreezing of Afghan assets.</p> <p>The Pakistan Foreign Minister, however, earlier this week said that there was no rush to recognise a new Taliban government, a step opposed by the western countries.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ</strong>: <strong><a href="https://ift.tt/3o3b3uY 'Non-Inclusive' Taliban Govt Could Face New Political Opposition</a></strong></p> <p>The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in mid-August.</p> <p>This came after US President Joe Biden withdrew his country&rsquo;s troops while categorically stating &ldquo;it&rsquo;s time to end America&rsquo;s longest war&rdquo;.</p>