Iran, Kabul-Islamabad Tensions Dominate Turkish, Qatari Talks With Taliban
DID Press: The situation in Iran and tensions between Kabul and Islamabad were among the key issues discussed during separate visits by senior Turkish and Qatari security officials to Afghanistan, according to Taliban Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani.
İbrahim Kalın, head of Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT), and Hamad bin Khamis Al-Kubaisi, deputy secretary-general of Qatar’s National Security Council, held separate meetings with senior Taliban officials in Kabul and Kandahar last week. Their talks covered security cooperation, regional developments and counter-narcotics efforts.
Qani said the situation in Iran was among the main subjects discussed during the meetings. He said further deterioration in Iran could have consequences for countries across the region, including Afghanistan, Qatar and Türkiye.
The officials also emphasized cooperation on regional security and stability, particularly in counterterrorism and combating drug trafficking, according to Qani.
Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan were another major issue. Qani said the sides emphasized continuing efforts to reduce tensions and improve relations between Kabul and Islamabad.
Kalın met with Abdul Haq Wasiq, Taliban intelligence chief; Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, acting defense minister; and Sirajuddin Haqqani, acting interior minister. The Qatari delegation also held separate meetings with senior Taliban officials.
According to Amu TV, sources close to the Taliban said tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban were a central focus of the visits and that the Turkish and Qatari officials had traveled to Kabul at Pakistan’s request. However, the Taliban’s public statements did not confirm that Pakistan had requested the visits.
Following his Afghanistan visit, Kalın traveled to Islamabad, where he met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Inter-Services Intelligence chief Asim Malik. Turkish officials said the talks included Afghanistan-Pakistan tensions and efforts to keep diplomatic channels open.
The visits come amid continuing tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban over Islamabad’s allegations that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups operate from Afghan territory. Taliban authorities reject the allegations and have said insecurity in Pakistan is an internal matter.
The security situation has remained volatile in Pakistan. On Sept. 18, a suicide bombing and armed attack at a police compound in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killed at least 31 people, including 16 police personnel, according to Pakistani officials cited by AFP. More than 100 people were reported injured.