Doha:
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab stated on Thursday there is a want to engage with the Taliban on Afghanistan, but Britain has no quick plans to recognise their government.
Raab was speaking throughout a joint press conference with Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in Doha, exactly where he visited housing for refugees evacuated from Afghanistan immediately after the Taliban swept to energy last month.
Sheikh Mohammed stated Qatar was speaking with the Taliban and working with Turkey for possible technical assistance to restart operations at Kabul airport.
“We are engaging with them (Taliban), engaging also with Turkey if they can provide any technical assistance on that front. Hopefully in the next few days there will be some good news,” Sheikh Mohammed stated.
“There is no clear indication when (the airport) is going to be fully operational yet…We remain hopeful that we will be able to operate it as soon as possible.”
The Taliban seized handle of the Afghan capital Kabul last month, but have however to name an administration or reveal how they intend to govern.
Raab stated he had discussed with Qatari officials making sure Afghanistan does not harbour terrorism in the future, stopping a humanitarian crisis, preserving regional stability and holding the Taliban to account on their public pledge to set up a more inclusive government.
“Our commitment on the part of the United Kingdom to Afghanistan remains. We need to adjust to the new reality,” Raab told reporters.
“Our immediate priority is to secure the safe passage of those remaining British nationals, and also the Afghans who worked for the United Kingdom, and others who may be at the most risk,” he stated, adding that he would be speaking to regional leaders about securing secure passage by means of third nations.
Britain has moved its Afghanistan embassy from Kabul to the Qatari capital Doha.
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