<p>The Taliban on Sunday pledged to guarantee the safety of humanitarian workers and aid access in Afghanistan in a meeting with the UN humanitarian chief in Kabul, a UN spokesman said.</p>.<p>Martin Griffiths was in the Afghan capital on Sunday for several days of meetings with Taliban leadership amid a looming humanitarian disaster in the country newly under the control of the hardline Islamists.</p>.<p>"The authorities pledged that the safety and security of humanitarian staff, and humanitarian access to people in need, will be guaranteed and that humanitarian workers -- both men and women -- will be guaranteed freedom of movement," a statement from UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/afghan-anti-taliban-resistance-leader-ahmad-massoud-says-he-is-ready-for-talks-1027388.html" target="_blank">Read | Afghan anti-Taliban resistance leader Ahmad Massoud says he is ready for talks</a></strong></p>.<p>Griffiths reiterated in the meeting that the humanitarian community was committed to delivering "impartial and independent humanitarian assistance," the statement added.</p>.<p>He also called on all parties to ensure the rights and safety of women, both those contributing to aid delivery and civilians.</p>.<p>Women's freedoms in Afghanistan were sharply curtailed under the Taliban's 1996-2001 rule.</p>.<p>The UN says Afghanistan is mired in a humanitarian crisis affecting 18 million people, or half the population.</p>.<p>Even before the Taliban's lightning offensive that ousted the Western-backed government on August 15, Afghanistan was already heavily aid-dependent -- with 40 percent of the country's GDP drawn from foreign funding.</p>.<p>But the future of aid missions in the country under the Taliban has been a source of concern for the UN and aid groups, despite Taliban pledges of a softer brand of rule than during their first stint in power.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/taliban-order-university-women-to-wear-face-covering-niqab-1027349.html" target="_blank">Read | Taliban order university women to wear face-covering niqab</a></strong></p>.<p>Several relief organizations have previously confirmed to AFP they were in talks with the Taliban to continue their operations, or have already received security guarantees for existing programs.</p>.<p>The UN said this week humanitarian flights had resumed to several Afghan provinces.</p>.<p>UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged "the Taliban and all other parties to exercise utmost restraint to protect lives and to ensure that humanitarian needs can be met" in a report to the Security Council this weekend.</p>.<p>The report was compiled as the mandate of the UN political mission in Afghanistan is scheduled to expire on September 17.</p>
<p>The Taliban on Sunday pledged to guarantee the safety of humanitarian workers and aid access in Afghanistan in a meeting with the UN humanitarian chief in Kabul, a UN spokesman said.</p>.<p>Martin Griffiths was in the Afghan capital on Sunday for several days of meetings with Taliban leadership amid a looming humanitarian disaster in the country newly under the control of the hardline Islamists.</p>.<p>"The authorities pledged that the safety and security of humanitarian staff, and humanitarian access to people in need, will be guaranteed and that humanitarian workers -- both men and women -- will be guaranteed freedom of movement," a statement from UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/afghan-anti-taliban-resistance-leader-ahmad-massoud-says-he-is-ready-for-talks-1027388.html" target="_blank">Read | Afghan anti-Taliban resistance leader Ahmad Massoud says he is ready for talks</a></strong></p>.<p>Griffiths reiterated in the meeting that the humanitarian community was committed to delivering "impartial and independent humanitarian assistance," the statement added.</p>.<p>He also called on all parties to ensure the rights and safety of women, both those contributing to aid delivery and civilians.</p>.<p>Women's freedoms in Afghanistan were sharply curtailed under the Taliban's 1996-2001 rule.</p>.<p>The UN says Afghanistan is mired in a humanitarian crisis affecting 18 million people, or half the population.</p>.<p>Even before the Taliban's lightning offensive that ousted the Western-backed government on August 15, Afghanistan was already heavily aid-dependent -- with 40 percent of the country's GDP drawn from foreign funding.</p>.<p>But the future of aid missions in the country under the Taliban has been a source of concern for the UN and aid groups, despite Taliban pledges of a softer brand of rule than during their first stint in power.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/taliban-order-university-women-to-wear-face-covering-niqab-1027349.html" target="_blank">Read | Taliban order university women to wear face-covering niqab</a></strong></p>.<p>Several relief organizations have previously confirmed to AFP they were in talks with the Taliban to continue their operations, or have already received security guarantees for existing programs.</p>.<p>The UN said this week humanitarian flights had resumed to several Afghan provinces.</p>.<p>UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged "the Taliban and all other parties to exercise utmost restraint to protect lives and to ensure that humanitarian needs can be met" in a report to the Security Council this weekend.</p>.<p>The report was compiled as the mandate of the UN political mission in Afghanistan is scheduled to expire on September 17.</p>