Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Deputy Amir meets with Qatari Foreign Minister Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani.
Karachi -Whether hosting peace talks between the United States and the Taliban or other regional issues.The Arab country of Qatar has been active on the global political scene for many years.
Despite strained relations with some countries in the region.The country which paved the way for a peace deal between the United States and the Taliban in February last year, is still considered important after the Taliban took over Afghanistan.
American Planes Carrying Afghan Refugees To Qatar
Qatar is the first destination for most American planes carrying Afghan refugees and others seeking to leave Kabul after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan.While the Taliban's political office in Qatar is bustling these days and the Taliban Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Amir of Pakistan, has arrived in Afghanistan aboard a Qatari plane.
Why did Qatar facilitate the Afghan conflict and what role has Qatar played in bringing the United States and the Taliban closer together since the Taliban was allowed to set up a political office?
Let's take a closer look.
Allegations of mediation in global conflicts but support for military organizations
Qatar has on many occasions acted as a mediator in resolving global disputes.The oil-rich country has also been accused of supporting militant movements and providing a platform for them.
However, Doha has always denied the allegations.
Hamas and Fatah
Be it the conflicts in Yemen, Lebanon, the Darfur region of West Sudan or the end of tensions between the Palestinian resistance organization Hamas and Fatah.
According to experts, Qatar has been making great diplomatic efforts to resolve every dispute.
The Qatari government also acted as a bridge to end the 20-year Afghan war, with the Afghan Taliban on one side and the US government on the other.
Qatar and Taliban Journey
The journey, which began with the Qatari government inviting the Taliban to set up a political office in Doha in 2013 to bring the parties to the negotiating table, continues.
Although Qatar was not among the countries that recognized the Taliban's rule over Afghanistan in 1996.It did have ties with the Taliban.
When the United States overthrew the Taliban government in 2001, a seemingly unending war broke out.
Observers say the Qatari government has made significant diplomatic efforts to end the protracted war.Which has led to a peace deal between the United States and the Taliban and those efforts are still ongoing.
Doha-based / Airbase Al-Adeed
The US diplomatic staff is being transferred from Kabul to Doha-based Airbase Al-Adeed by a Qatar Airways plane.
The US diplomatic staff is being transferred from Kabul to Doha-based Airbase Al-Adeed by a Qatar Airways plane.
Shelter for Afghan citizens after Taliban takeover of Kabul
Hundreds of Afghans were flown to Qatar's Al-Adeed Air Base on a US military C-17 a day after the Taliban took control of Kabul on August 15.Now Qatar's state-run airline is evacuating foreigners from Kabul.
Qatar has consistently called for an end to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.In this regard, Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani is also in contact with world leaders.
Two days after the Taliban took control of Kabul, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar paid a farewell call on the Qatari Foreign Minister before leaving for Afghanistan.The two leaders discussed political settlement, peaceful transition of power and peace in Afghanistan.
Qatar has hosted the Afghan conflict several times over the past eight years.Other key leaders, including the Qatari foreign minister, have taken part in the talks.
Will Qatar recognize the Taliban government
But observers are questioning whether the Taliban have taken control of Afghanistan.Contrary to a peace agreement reached between the United States and the Taliban in February 2020.In such a scenario, what will be the future of the peace agreement and what further role will Qatar.
Its facilitator, have to play in implementing the terms of the agreement?
Andreas Craig, an analyst with a keen interest in Middle East politics, says the United States had pressured Qatar to hold detainees released from Guantanamo Bay during talks with the Taliban in order to move forward with talks with the Taliban.
Now that the Taliban are occupying Kabul and preparing to form a new government.Craig says that if the United States does not recognize the Taliban government.It will be difficult for Qatar to recognize the Taliban.
He said Qatar would not jeopardize its position as a mediator in the Afghan conflict and would recognize the US position.
Remember that Qatar is a small country on the shores of the Persian Gulf with a population of about 3 million.Qatar also has long-standing ties with the United States and has given Washington a military base in Doha.
Agreement Between the Taliban and the United States
Observers say Qatar's role is not over after the Taliban took over Afghanistan,because as a mediator.Qatar has to ensure peace in Afghanistan and the implementation of many points of the agreement reached between the Taliban and the United States and for this purpose it has a peace agreement as an argument in which the Taliban made many promises.
These promises include that the Taliban are global terrorists.They will not have ties to organizations and will not allow Afghan soil to be used against any country, including the United States and its allies.
US Think Tank Foreign Policy
Michael Stephen, a senior analyst at the US think tank Foreign Policy Research Institute, says Qatar has some problems of its own.One of which is that it does not fully understand Afghanistan.
He told AFP that Qatar wanted to be the center of intercultural diplomacy and that was the concept it was constantly trying to present to the world.
In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen and Libya cut off diplomatic relations with Qatar.Accusing it of supporting ISIS and other extremist groups in addition to the Muslim Brotherhood.
However, Qatar called the allegations baseless and the severance of diplomatic ties unjustified.
The severance of diplomatic relations with six Arab countries has caused difficulties for Qatar.Which has also had a direct impact on the ongoing Afghan peace talks in Doha.
"We are a platform for peace and we will not back down from our independent foreign policy," the Qatari foreign minister said after the severance of diplomatic ties.
Qatar to be a topic of Discussion in Afghan Conflict
Dr Tobias Burke, a member of the Royal United Services Institute of Research, a British think tank, says Qatar has long pursued strong diplomacy in resolving the Afghan conflict.This has been possible because of good relations with all parties.There are links.
According to him, he can say with certainty that Qatar will remain a topic of discussion in the Afghan conflict.
"The Taliban have sent many positive messages so far and these messages will continue to come until they take full control of Afghanistan," he said.He also expressed fears that the Taliban would crack down on opponents once they come to power.
Taliban Spokesman Zabihullah
However, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid announced during his first press conference on August 17 that he would not take revenge on any enemy and that there would be a general amnesty for government officials.
What did Qatar achieve as a mediator
Qatar was once again recognized internationally when the United States and the Taliban signed a peace agreement in Doha on February 29, 2020.
On several occasions before the agreement, the Qatari foreign minister and other senior officials held several rounds of talks to persuade the parties to reach an agreement.But critics say inter-Afghan talks were an important part of the peace agreement that They were sure and nothing happened.
British think tank Royal United Services Institute (Russian)
According to the British think tank Royal United Services Institute (Russian), there are many influential and rich countries in Qatar's neighborhood with which its relations are not very pleasant.He has always sought to be the focus of the world's attention and to that end he has acted as a mediator in resolving global disputes.
According to Rossi, Qatar's strategy in Afghanistan is a reflection of its position as a key negotiator between the West and Muslim countries, with whom the West has difficulty dealing.
Qatar's role can also be seen in the Libyan conflict.Where it established ties with Libya's prominent religious figure, Ali al-Salabi and helped ease tensions between the emerging Islamic government and the West.
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