Qatar’s Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has visited Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, and met Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, the acting Prime Minister in the Taliban’s new government. He also met on Sunday with former President Hamid Karzai as well as Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the National Reconciliation Council as he encouraged Afghan parties and groups to engage in national reconciliation. Al Thani met a number of officials in the new government, including the foreign minister and their deputy.
It is the highest-level visit by an official since the United States military withdrawal from Afghanistan. The officials discussed the current political situation and the efforts Qatar is
Qatar is considered one of the countries with the most influence over the Taliban, which took control of Afghanistan last month as US troops were preparing to finally withdraw from the country after 20 years. It played a pivotal role in the massive US-led airlift of its own citizens, other Western nationals, and Afghans who helped Western countries.
Qatar has the honor to host peace negotiations between the US and Taliban and reached an agreement in February 2020. Qatar enjoys the trust and confidence of the Taliban. Qatar is also assisting the Taliban to repair and operate International Airport damaged by the US troops before final departure. The US burned most of the airport equipment and air crafts, helicopter, control tower and damaged to make all dysfunctional.
It is also supporting tens of thousands of Afghans who were evacuated in the final weeks of the US-led occupation as they are processed before heading to other nations. Foreign donors led by the US provided more than 75 percent of the public expenditure for the Afghan government that crumbled as the US withdrew its troops after 20 years in the country.
Taliban are facing severe challenges on the economic front as the US has frozen its assets and halted all aid programs. Further, under the US influence, IMF, World Bank, and other International Financial Institutions (IFIs) have also stopped any funds to be released to Afghanistan. Most donor countries are reluctant and looking toward the US face if they should help or not. China is the only country providing relief to the Afghan Government and Pakistan is extending purely humanitarian aid in the form of food, medicines, etc.
President Joe Biden’s administration has said it is open to donating humanitarian aid but says that any direct economic lifeline, including unfreezing central bank assets, will be contingent on Taliban actions including allowing safe passage to people to leave. The International Monetary Fund has also blocked the Taliban from accessing some $440m in new emergency reserves. “The Taliban seeks international legitimacy and support. Our message is simple: any legitimacy and support will have to be earned,” senior US diplomat Jeffrey DeLaurentis told the Security Council.
Although the Taliban are allowing all Afghan nationals or foreign nationals who wish to leave Afghanistan, and many are already left Afghanistan. There is no restriction from Government, but the US is still insisting, which shows ill-motives and evil intentions.
According to the Peace Deal reached between the US and Taliban, the US was bound to recognize the Taliban government and remove their names from the UN list of terrorists or black list. The US was also obliged to get Taiban recognized internationally. The irony is that the Taliban are stuck to the peace deal and acting accordingly, but the US is deviating from the deal as well as trying to escape from its legal binding.
No country has yet formally recognized the new Taliban government, but it is expected as soon as they announce their government formally, many countries are just waiting for recognizing the new Government. China is already cooperating with the Taliban and enjoys close liaison. Russian was engaged with the Taliban under the Moscow peace initiative, and working closely with them. All the neighboring countries and regional countries are also ready to recognize them. Although few countries have shown little reservation but recognition is no big deal. OIC countries also going to establish close ties with the new Afghan Government. Many people in Europe are also of the opinion to recognize the new Afghan Government. But US pressure may prevent few governments to stay away from Afghan recognition.
The US was engaged with the Taliban for quite a long and negotiated a peace deal with them. It is definitely recognition, but, for face-saving or politically, the US may delay the formal recognition. However, the US Chief spy Director CIA Traveled to Afghanistan and met senior leaders of the Taliban, the details of his visit were kept secret, but, reveals close contacts between the US and the Afghan new Government.
Taliban assessing the sensitivity of 9/11 has delayed the formal announcement of their new government, as they believe in peace, harmony, and stability. They avoid any confrontation or confusion. They are not in a hurry and are quite sensible people. They are equipped with modern knowledge and wanted to live with the international community in full harmony. Let the international community also understand them and welcome them.