Qatar’s Director of Asian Affairs Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yousef bin Sultan Yousef Laram, said his country stresses the importance of cooperation and constructive dialogue to achieve “tangible progress” in Afghanistan.
According to a statement issued by Qatar’s foreign ministry, Yousef Laram made the remarks at the fifth Moscow-format meeting on Friday.
Representatives of 10 countries attended the meeting on Friday in Kazan city in Russia. A Taliban delegation, led by their acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, also attended the summit.
Participants debated matters related to Afghanistan, including the formation of an inclusive government, human rights, security and counter-narcotics.
Qatar’s foreign ministry said its envoy, who was also an “honorary guest observer” at the Moscow-format, told the summit that achieving regional and international stability is the primary goal of all parties that are seeking to achieve stability and security in Afghanistan.
According to the statement, Youse Laram also referred to the remarks made by the Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, at the opening session of the 78th UN General Assembly, where he “affirmed that the State of Qatar continues to coordinate international efforts and facilitate dialogue between the United Nations, the concerned countries and the caretaker government of Afghanistan to ensure adherence to the Doha Agreement.”
Qatar’s envoy also pledged that Doha would continue to support Afghanistan in a bid to improve the humanitarian conditions in the country.
The Taliban has close ties with Qatar, where many Western diplomatic missions for Afghanistan are currently based. The Taliban also has a political office in Doha.
Recently, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said in an interview with CNN, that he met with the Taliban’s leader during a trip to Kandahar earlier this year. Al Thani said that he told officials in Kandahar that if they want to be part of the international community they need to cooperate with the world.
Participants at the Moscow-format meanwhile stressed the need for an inclusive government in Afghanistan, respect for human rights by the Taliban and efforts to counter terrorism in the country.
