Taliban Pledge Safety for Humanitarian Workers, UN Says

UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations humanitarian chief met Sunday with leaders of the Taliban, who pledged to guarantee the safety of humanitarian workers and aid access in Afghanistan, a U.N. spokesman said.    1/2Mullah A. Baradar, Deputy-Amir, IEA for Political Affairs and Head, PO and his delegation met Martin Griffiths, UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs at the foreign Ministry in Kabul, today. The UN delegation promised continuation of humanitarian assistance

Martin Griffiths was in the Afghan capital on Sunday and is to have several days of meetings with Taliban leadership amid a looming humanitarian disaster in the country newly under the control of the hardline Islamists.   "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.   Griffiths reiterated in the meeting that the humanitarian community was committed to delivering "impartial and independent humanitarian assistance," the statement added.