It has been decades since Qatar assumed leadership positions in regional and international issues adopting a foreign policy based on the principle of strengthening international peace and security by means of encouraging peaceful resolution of disputes.
This principle has always made Qatar a global player, whether it is by hosting huge sports events or facilitating or mediating between warring parties to resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner.
Within the framework of this vision, Qatar hosted the Taliban’s political office, facilitated negotiations between the US and Taliban that culminated in the signing of agreement in February 2020 that led to the withdrawal of US and Nato coalition troops from Afghanistan. Qatar also played a crucial role in the evacuation of nationals of many countries, hosted Afghans and provided them with humanitarian aids.
Qatar realised that humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan is essential and kept it on its top priorities. Not only that but also Qatar urged the international community to provide humanitarian support to the Afghans without confusing their political position on the Taliban with the needs of local community waiting for immediate assistance. Qatar has been continuously encouraging all countries and international organizations to provide assistance and continue working with the Afghan state agencies to support the Afghan people.
Qatar’s participation yesterday in the 17th Extraordinary Session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers on Afghanistan, held in Islamabad, is the continuity of the same approach and policy.
At the session, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi reaffirmed the position of Qatar and its keenness on security, stability, and development in Afghanistan, noting that Qatar had made unremitting efforts to achieve this goal since its sponsorship of the direct dialogue between the US and the Taliban. Muraikhi reiterated that Qatar will continue to perform its humanitarian duty towards Afghan people, stressing that the OIC countries and members of the international community bear a great responsibility towards Afghanistan, particularly ensuring the delivery of humanitarian and relief aid.
The State of Qatar will remain sincere to its promises and commitments towards brothers and peoples in need of humanitarian support and will continue providing funds for development programmes in poor countries as Qatar believes that development enhances the process of building peace and stability in countries such as Afghanistan which suffered a lot from wars and prolonged conflicts.
