Delegates from the United States and the Taliban have held talks in Qatar ahead of this month's second anniversary of the Islamic group's return to power in Afghanistan.

The US State Department and the Taliban interim government said the talks were held on Sunday and Monday in the capital Doha. Senior State Department officials represented the US side, while the Taliban delegation reportedly included acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

A statement from the US State Department said the US officials noted that the human rights situation -- in particular for women -- has been deteriorating in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power. The officials reiterated their call for the Taliban to reverse policies restricting the education and employment of women.

At the same time, the statement said the US side expressed its "openness to a technical dialogue regarding economic stabilization issues."

In response, the Taliban reportedly called for the lifting of sanctions imposed by the US, including unfreezing Afghanistan's central bank's frozen reserves. The representatives said the move is necessary to build an economy independent of overseas aid.

The US appears to be aiming to improve Afghanistan's human rights situation and other issues by continuing its economic dialogue with the Taliban.