ISLAMABAD: Relations between Qatar and the Taliban regime in Afghanistanhave plunged to their lowest point since the 2021 takeover, with Dohaseriously contemplating a significant downgrade in diplomatic and politicalengagement, according to senior security sources.
Ali K. Chisti, a prominent Pakistani defence and security analyst, revealedthat a high-ranking Qatari security official confided during recentdiscussions in Doha that the Gulf state has grown deeply frustrated withthe Taliban’s persistent failure to establish effective governancestructures four years after seizing power.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, reportedly expressedacute embarrassment over the Taliban’s inability to deliver basic services,maintain internal cohesion, or honour commitments made to internationalinterlocutors, particularly regarding inclusive governance and women’srights.
Qatar, which has hosted the Taliban’s political office since 2013 andpositioned itself as the primary mediator between Kabul and the West, nowviews continued high-level engagement as increasingly untenable. Sourcesindicate that Qatari leadership is particularly incensed by what theydescribe as the Taliban’s arrogant and dismissive attitude towarddiplomatic overtures and technical assistance offers.
The reported strain follows a series of incidents that have tested Doha’spatience, including the Taliban’s abrupt cancellation of scheduled talks,public criticism of Gulf states perceived as too close to Washington, andthe regime’s harsh enforcement of restrictive social policies that havedrawn global condemnation.
Senior Qatari officials are said to be reviewing all aspects of theirrelationship with Kabul, including the future status of the Talibanpolitical office in Doha, humanitarian coordination mechanisms, andmediation roles in potential future negotiations.
The development marks a significant shift for Qatar, which had investedconsiderable political capital in facilitating the 2020 Doha Agreement andsubsequently positioning itself as the Taliban’s most importantinternational patron. Any substantial reduction in ties would deal a severeblow to the Taliban’s efforts to gain international legitimacy and accessfrozen assets.
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Regional diplomats suggest that Qatar’s reassessment reflects broader Gulffatigue with the Taliban’s intransigence and may signal the beginning of acoordinated re-evaluation of engagement strategies by Arab states that hadmaintained working relations with Kabul.
The reported Qatari disillusionment comes amid growing internationalpressure on the Taliban to moderate its policies, particularly followingthe recent imposition of severe restrictions on female education andemployment that prompted widespread condemnation.
Source: www.dawn.com/news/1875432″>https://www.dawn.com/news/1875432
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