Qatar becomes key player after US exit from Afghanistan
The departure of the United States following the Taliban takeover of Kabul leaves an even more complicated situation in the Afghan capital. Weeks after seeing the radicals seize power, the evacuation tasks have not ended, but the deadline set by US President Joe Biden means that as of this very Tuesday, the entire evacuation process has come to an end - at least on the part of the Americans. In this context, the figure of Qatar emerges, whose mediating position could be fundamental thanks to its proximity to both sides.
According to some reports, the Taliban have asked Qatar to provide civilian technical assistance at Kabul's international airport, once the military withdrawal of US troops is completed on Tuesday. However, the Qatari authorities have not commented on the matter. Meanwhile, international UN agencies are appealing to Qatar itself for help and support in delivering aid to Afghanistan. After all, almost 40 per cent of all evacuees were transported through Qatar, which won much praise from Washington.
Qatar's role in the evacuations reflects its position as a major supporter of the largest US military base in the Middle East. But, at the same time, also its decision years ago to host the Taliban's political leadership in exile gives it very important leverage over the militant group. Qatar also hosted the US-Taliban peace talks that took place in the past. Now, the Qataris can again be the bridge between the Taliban and the Americans, which seems to be crucial, otherwise the situation in the whole of Afghanistan could become hell - worse than it already is - for those on its territory.
Qatar's deputy foreign minister, Lolwa al-Khater, acknowledged the political progress made by Qatar in recent weeks, but rejected any suggestion that Qatar's efforts were purely for strategic purposes, as all countries in such an advantageous location as Afghanistan seem to have. For some of the most sensitive rescue efforts in the country, Qatar carried out the operation with only a few hundred soldiers and its own military aircraft. In total, al-Khater said Qatar secured access to Kabul airport for about 3,000 people and airlifted up to 1,500 people after receiving requests from international organisations and verifying their names.
"If anyone assumes it's just about political gain, believe me, there are ways of doing public relations that are much easier than risking our people on the ground, much easier than having sleepless nights for the last two weeks, much less complicated than spending our time taking care of all the children and all the pregnant women," the Qatari minister told the Associated Press. As for negotiations with both sides in the conflict, he said, "there are checkpoints on the US side, on the British side, on the NATO side, on the Turkish side ... and we have to juggle all these variables and factors".
The vast majority of people still on Afghan territory are desperate to get out, including civil society activists, those who had worked for Western armies and, above all, women who fear losing the rights they have worked so hard and for so many years to gain. In addition, other armed groups pose a growing threat. Last week, an attack by an ISIS suicide bomber killed more than 180 people outside Kabul airport. The situation in the capital is increasingly worrying and Qatar seems to be one of the keys to at least try to calm the waters and bring all parties to the table for dialogue.
