Qatar to act as US diplomatic representative in Afghanistan - US official
Qatar will sign an arrangement to assume the role of "protecting power" for US interests to help facilitate communication between Washington and the Taliban government.
By REUTERS
Published: NOVEMBER 12, 2021
The United States and Qatar have agreed that Qatar will represent the diplomatic interests of the United States in Afghanistan, a senior US official told Reuters, an important signal of potential direct engagement between Washington and Kabul in the future after two decades of war. Qatar will sign an arrangement with the United States on Friday to assume the role of "protecting power" for US interests to help facilitate any formal communication between Washington and the Taliban government in Afghanistan, which the United States does not recognize.
The move comes at a time when the United States and other Western countries are grappling with how to engage with the Taliban after the hardline group took over Afghanistan in a lightning advance in August as US-led forces were withdrawing after two decades of war. Many countries including the United States and European states are reluctant to formally recognize the Taliban as critics say they are backtracking on pledges of political and ethnic inclusivity and not to sideline women and minorities. But with winter approaching, many countries realize they need to engage more to prevent the deeply impoverished country from plunging into a humanitarian catastrophe.
more............. https://www.jpost.com/international...resentative-in-afghanistan-us-official-684840
Qatar will sign an arrangement to assume the role of "protecting power" for US interests to help facilitate communication between Washington and the Taliban government.
By REUTERS
Published: NOVEMBER 12, 2021
The United States and Qatar have agreed that Qatar will represent the diplomatic interests of the United States in Afghanistan, a senior US official told Reuters, an important signal of potential direct engagement between Washington and Kabul in the future after two decades of war. Qatar will sign an arrangement with the United States on Friday to assume the role of "protecting power" for US interests to help facilitate any formal communication between Washington and the Taliban government in Afghanistan, which the United States does not recognize.
The move comes at a time when the United States and other Western countries are grappling with how to engage with the Taliban after the hardline group took over Afghanistan in a lightning advance in August as US-led forces were withdrawing after two decades of war. Many countries including the United States and European states are reluctant to formally recognize the Taliban as critics say they are backtracking on pledges of political and ethnic inclusivity and not to sideline women and minorities. But with winter approaching, many countries realize they need to engage more to prevent the deeply impoverished country from plunging into a humanitarian catastrophe.
more............. https://www.jpost.com/international...resentative-in-afghanistan-us-official-684840
