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The fall of Afghanistan
Geneva of the Middle East: Qatar took advantage of the crisis in Afghanistan, establishing its global status
The Little Princess, which has hosted the Taliban's political bureau in recent years, used its influence on the organization and assisted in the evacuation operation from Afghanistan.
Western foreign ministers are flocking to Doha, which is working to resume operations at Kabul airport.
"Qataris have achieved the status of fair mediators"
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Afghanistan
Qatar
Taliban
News agencies
Sunday, 05 September 2021, 11:14
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Qatar has established its global position in recent weeks following its key role in the Kabul air clearance operation after its conquest by the Taliban. Despite her size, the princess is an important player in the international arena and she has won the trust of all parties in the war in Afghanistan.
It invited the Taliban to open a political bureau in Doha in 2013 with the blessing of then-US President Barack Obama, who sank in the war in Afghanistan. It hosted the Taliban-Washington peace talks, including the signing ceremony of the withdrawal agreement in February last year, and talks between the Islamist organization and the Afghan government.
The close relationship between Doha and the Taliban has helped it become a global hub of efforts as it seeks to evacuate Afghan and foreign citizens from Kabul, and is now leading the reopening of the airport in the Afghan capital.
"The Qataris have achieved the status of decent mediators, willing to help rival parties find a solution to end conflicts," said Colin Clark, a senior research fellow at the Sufan Center.
"I think Qatar has gained recognition from this that Doha is a place to make a deal. It has become a Middle East geneva, a neutral place for rivals."
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To the full article
Qatar's Foreign Secretary meets with British Foreign Secretary Doha last week (Photo: Reuters)
In just over a week, Qatar will host the foreign ministers of the United States, Britain, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who will arrive in Doha tomorrow, has already expressed "deep gratitude" for Qatar's involvement in the evacuation operation from Kabul.
The British Foreign Secretary, Dominic Crabbe, praised the dramatic air evacuation operation, during which Doha served as an important transit station. "The greatest operation of its kind in modern history has been thanks in no small part to the cooperation of our Qatari friends," he said. Britain, like other countries, moved its embassy from Kabul to Doha.
Rab, who is already in the principality, described Qatar as a "key actress" and its leader Emir Tamim bin Hamad a-Thani as a "friend".
Qatar is working with the Taliban to quickly reopen Kabul Airport, which has remained closed since the last US troops departed last week, and is seeking the opening of humanitarian aid corridors.
At the height of the Finnish operation, the Qatari ambassador to Afghanistan personally accompanied American and Afghan citizens at risk to the airport.
His efforts to accompany some young Afghan women, who feared the Taliban would not allow them to continue their studies, were seen as a powerful gesture.
U.S. Air Force planes take part in evacuation operation from Kabul, at al-Odayid base in Doha, yesterday (Photo: Reuters)
Qatar's diplomatic achievement is even more impressive in light of the fact that until January it was isolated by its neighbors.
Saudi Arabia, along with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, severed ties with Doha in 2017 on the grounds that it supports Islamist organizations and Iran.
Qatar has denied this.
Despite the restoration of diplomatic relations, Qatar's rise in power is not without its challenges.
The French intelligence website Online reports that Qatari officials "convinced that the Taliban are willing to share power" with the ousted Afghan government.
"Doha was surprised to see the complete disconnect between the promises made by the (Taliban) political representatives in exile and the reality on the ground."
"There is a limit to Qatar's influence"
Some experts have also raised questions about Qatar's ability to continue to influence the Taliban.
David Roberts, an associate professor at King's College London, wondered if Taliban representatives in Doha would have any more influence on the regime the regime establishes in Afghanistan.
"It will be the final stage of the Qatari game," he told AFP.
"I imagine the telephone lines between Washington and Doha have been hot in recent days. The State Department and the Pentagon know that Qatar has years of contacts (with the Taliban) that can be used and leveraged."
On the other hand, Michael Robin, of the Institute for American Entrepreneurship, accused Doha of providing international legitimacy to the Taliban as well as access to the global financial system.
"There is a limit to Qatar's influence," he said.
"Attention can be addictive, and Qatar is addicted to attention and is a country that seeks relevance."
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