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Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdurrahman al-Thani arrived in Kandahar on Friday and met with Taliban officials, Tolo News reported.
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani (file photo)
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Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said on Twitter that he had met Afghan Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Ahund.
“At this meeting, the Prime Minister of the country emphasized the need to strengthen relations between the two countries, increase the level of trust between the two countries, and practical cooperation in the fields of education, health and economy in Afghanistan,” he tweeted.
The Qatari delegation also included Abdullah Houlaifi, head of Qatar’s National Security Service (Intelligence Service).
Mujahid said they discussed cooperation to strengthen ties and trust, as well as cooperation in the areas of education, health and the economy, according to Tolo News.
“The further cooperation between Qatar and the people of Afghanistan was highlighted.
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In the meantime, the heartfelt message from the Emir of Qatar is appreciated and encourages the country to play a bigger role in building more trust between the country and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,” Mujahid tweeted.
Notably, Qatar facilitated discussions between the governments of the Islamic Emirate and the United States, which culminated in a peace agreement on February 29, 2020.
Qatar has longstanding ties to the Taliban. While this approach has been criticized by some, others have benefited from the country’s connections. Qatar’s main interest is to strengthen its position as a regional mediator.
Relations between Qatar and the Taliban are by no means new. Back in 2013, Qatar, backed by the Obama administration, allowed the Taliban to open an office in Doha.
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According to Deutsche Welle, Washington was looking for a neutral place to negotiate with Islamic militias in preparation for the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.
Since 2018, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, one of the founding members of the Taliban, has led its representatives in Qatar.
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