https://arab.news/wxe2t
- Qatari foreign minister Al-Thani held talks with Taliban-appointed prime minister on Sunday聽
- Qatar is considered one of countries with most influence over Taliban, Doha was home of the Taliban鈥檚 political office
CAIRO, Sept 12 : Qatar鈥檚 foreign minister held talks with the prime minister of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan on Sunday, in the highest-level foreign visit to Kabul since the militant group seized the capital last month.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani called upon the country鈥檚 new rulers to 鈥渋nvolve all Afghan parties in national reconciliation鈥� when he met Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hasan Akhund, Qatar鈥檚 foreign ministry said.
Qatar is considered one of the countries with the most influence over the Taliban and played a pivotal role in the massive US-led airlift of its own citizens, other Western nationals and Afghans who helped Western countries.
The Qatari capital Doha also hosted the Taliban鈥檚 political office, which oversaw the negotiations with the United States that eventually led to the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.
Sheikh Mohammed and new premier Akhund also discussed 鈥渃oncerted efforts to combat terrorist organizations that threaten the stability of Afghanistan,鈥� ways to enhance peace in the country and the safe passage of people, according to the Qatar ministry.
Sheikh Mohammed met the prime minister and a number of other senior ministers, a Taliban spokesman said.
鈥淭he meeting focused on bilateral relations, humanitarian assistance, economic development and interaction with the world,鈥� according to the Taliban.
Sunday鈥檚 meeting in the presidential palace was attended by a number of other Afghan ministers including Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Defense Minister Yaqoob Mujahid, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani and intelligence chief Abdul Haq Wasiq.
The Taliban said the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, the term used by the group to describe the new order in Afghanistan, thanked the Qatar government for supporting the Afghan people.
The Doha agreement, signed by the United States and the Taliban, was a 鈥渓andmark achievement, all sides should adhere to its implementation,鈥� the Taliban added.
Qatar鈥檚 Sheikh Mohammed also met Abdullah Abdullah, a senior official in the previous Afghan government, and former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the foreign ministry said.