Doha:
Qatar stated the Taliban have demonstrated “pragmatism” and should really be judged on their actions as the undisputed rulers of Afghanistan, but stopped brief of announcing formal recognition of the Islamists.
Qatari Assistant Foreign Minister Lolwah al-Khater told AFP in an exclusive interview that it would be up to the Afghans to figure out their future, not the international neighborhood.
Doha was the central intermediary among the Taliban, who opened a political workplace in Qatar in 2013, and the international neighborhood like Washington up till the Islamist group completed their lightning takeover of Afghanistan last month.
“They have shown a great deal of pragmatism. Let’s seize the opportunities there… and look at their public actions,” stated Khater, who stopped brief of announcing formal recognition of Afghanistan’s new rulers.
“They are the de facto rulers, no question about that,” she told AFP in the interview, which took location late Monday, ahead of the Taliban unveiled their hardline interim government.
The Taliban named an acting government headed by Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund on Tuesday but have but to acquire formal recognition from any United Nations member state, like Qatar.
But Khater, Qatar’s spokeswoman on the world stage as effectively as face of the nation’s coronavirus response, noted “some good gestures” from the new Taliban rulers of Afghanistan.
“The very fact many evacuees were able to leave Kabul — including many female students — is a showcase, because without their cooperation, it would not have been possible,” she told AFP.
Qatari recognition of the Taliban would not come straight away, Khater stated.
“We don’t rush to a recognition. But we don’t completely disengage with the Taliban… we take the middle way.”
For its element, the US stated on Tuesday that it was “concerned” about the government unveiled by the Taliban earlier in the day, noting it was comprised solely of Taliban members and did not include things like any ladies.
A State Department spokesman noted that it was a “caretaker” government and stated “we will judge the Taliban by its actions, not words.”
Qatar in the spotlight
Khater stated that given that returning to energy, the Taliban had largely left Afghan overall health authorities, like female medics, totally free to continue their coronavirus response.
Calls from Western nations and NGOs for the group to respect the rights of ladies and minorities have mounted in the days given that their shock August 15 takeover of Kabul.
“Afghanistan is a sovereign country… the people of Afghanistan should have their own say,” stated Khater.
“When we talk about Afghanistan being responsive to the international community, it does not mean that the international community can or should control the fate of the people of Afghanistan.”
Qatar, a US ally that has emerged as a crucial player each in evacuations and diplomacy on Afghanistan, is host to the biggest US airbase in the area.
Nearly half of the more than 120,000 men and women airlifted out of Afghanistan have transited by means of Qatar, which is also working on the ground to permit Kabul airport, barely operative following Washington’s withdrawal, to reopen.
It was the deal struck among former president Donald Trump’s administration and the Taliban in Doha in February last year that set the course for Washington’s chaotic withdrawal and the militants’ subsequent takeover.
On and off talks among the Afghan government and Taliban in Doha that followed the deal failed to provide a workable blueprint for an inclusive government.
‘Don’t kill the messenger’
Asked if Qatar’s actions had contributed to the Taliban’s re-emergence, Khater stated: “Don’t kill the messenger”.
“Qatar has been the messenger… we have been facilitating,” she added.
Qatar has been thrust into the international spotlight immediately after enabling one of history’s biggest airlifts in response to the takeover.
Khater largely oversaw Doha’s evacuation operations and even received some refugees in individual.
On a two-day take a look at to the fabulously wealthy Arabian desert nation, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced appreciation to Qatar’s ruler, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, in a public relations coup for the nation.
Visits from a procession of top rated ministers and envoys, rounded off by Blinken, capped a whirlwind week of diplomacy on the world stage for Doha.
“Many people were questioning our mediation and approach, but now I think we are putting this to a real test and the entire world is looking at us to help and facilitate in this mediation,” Khater stated.
“If (the Taliban) respect human rights, women’s rights, especially women’s education, then there will be benefits for that. If they don’t do that, then there will be consequences.”
Despite the logistical challenges on the ground, the diplomat stated she was hopeful help efforts could resume, but stated that UN agencies and their work should really not be politicised.
“More engagement from the side of the UN in general would be helpful,” she stated.
“UN agencies shouldn’t be politicised. They should be focused on the humanitarian and developmental aid.”
(This story has not been edited by TheSpuzz employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)