Taliban Receives New Qatari Ambassador, Pledges Stronger Cooperation

DID Press: Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, PM of the Taliban government, formally received the credentials of Murad bin Ali Al-Kashouti, Qatar’s Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Afghanistan, in an official ceremony, with both sides emphasizing strengthening relations and future cooperation between Kabul and Doha.

The Taliban Prime Minister, while appreciating Qatar’s role over past years, expressed hope that the appointment of the new ambassador would further enhance diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting Foreign Minister of the Taliban government, described the relations between the two countries as historic and stressed the development of trade and facilitation of Afghan labor deployment to Qatar.

The new Qatari ambassador said that his country will work to expand bilateral cooperation and continue its mediation policy to bring Afghanistan closer to the international community.

Al-Kashouti previously served as Charge d’Affaires at the Qatari Embassy in Kabul and has now been appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary by the Emir of Qatar.

Qatar has long been one of the closest political partners of the Taliban. The opening of the Taliban political office in Doha in 2013 and the negotiations leading to the Doha Agreement in 2020 highlighted Qatar’s role in Afghanistan’s developments. After the Taliban returned to power, Doha has hosted international meetings on Afghanistan and serves as the main channel of the Taliban’s engagement with the world.