U.S. Asks UN to Separate Taliban, al-Qaeda as Step Toward Deal

The U.S. is asking the United Nations Security Council to distinguish between Taliban and al-Qaeda followers in enforcing sanctions, a bid to encourage Taliban reconciliation with Afghanistan’s government.

The U.S. mission to the UN has circulated two draft resolutions to council members that would split what has been a combined list of Taliban and al-Qaeda adherents subject to the travel ban and asset freeze imposed in 1999, according to three diplomats who spoke on condition of not being identified because the texts haven’t been made public.