CIA Director <br />and Taliban Leader, Meet as U.S. Evacuation Deadline Looms.<br />CIA Director <br />and Taliban Leader, Meet as U.S. Evacuation Deadline Looms.<br />On August 23, <br />a U.S. official said that <br />CIA Director William Burns <br />met with Taliban leader <br />Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul.<br />On August 23, <br />a U.S. official said that <br />CIA Director William Burns <br />met with Taliban leader <br />Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Kabul.<br />NPR reports that it was the highest level meeting <br />between the Biden administration and the Taliban <br />since the group took power in Afghanistan on Aug. 15.<br />NPR reports that it was the highest level meeting <br />between the Biden administration and the Taliban <br />since the group took power in Afghanistan on Aug. 15.<br />According to NPR, no specifics were offered <br />in terms of where the meeting took place<br />or what exactly was discussed.<br />According to NPR, no specifics were offered <br />in terms of where the meeting took place<br />or what exactly was discussed.<br />In February 2020, the Trump administration signed an agreement with the Taliban calling for all U.S. troops to leave Afghanistan by May of 2021.<br />Now, the most pressing issue remains whether the U.S. airlift operation will continue beyond President Biden's self-imposed Aug. 31 deadline.<br />Now, the most pressing issue remains whether the U.S. airlift operation will continue beyond President Biden's self-imposed Aug. 31 deadline.<br />President Biden has left open <br />the possibility of extending that deadline.<br />However, the Taliban have said that <br />a continued U.S. presence would be met <br />with unspecified consequences.<br />According to NPR, the Pentagon has daily contact with the Taliban at the Kabul airport.<br />Armed Taliban members are effectively performing crowd control at the airport, while the U.S. conducts its airlift operation.<br />Armed Taliban members are effectively performing crowd control at the airport, while the U.S. conducts its airlift operation
