Even a year after Taliban’s takeover, there is no clarity “on the way forward” for Afghanistan, said Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s Foreign Minister, in New York on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The Qatari minister said, “We’ve been advising the international community that we need to arrange a blueprint for the way forward—what are the required series of conditions we need from the current leadership in Afghanistan, in exchange of what we can provide as an international community.”
Sheikh Mohammed added that Afghanistan will remain a concern in the absence of a clear roadmap for the country’s future.
During his speech at the UNGA on Tuesday, Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said abandoning Afghanistan would be counterproductive.
“We have seen a growing humanitarian crisis over there, an economic crisis, as well as a growing concern on terrorism and terrorist organisations operating from there,” he said.
Qatar had earlier too facilitated negotiations between the Taliban and the US. In addition to talks between the former Afghan government and then-militants, Qatar has remained a key platform for dialogue. Since last year, it has hosted meetings between the Taliban and the international community.