Qatar’s foreign minister has sent a stark warning about the consequences the world could face if nations don’t engage with the Taliban
The foreign minister of Qatar has warned that isolating the Taliban militant group could lead to further instability in the region of Afghanistan.
The minister sent the warning, urging nations to engage with the movement to address security and socioeconomic concerns in Afghanistan.
“If we are starting to put conditions and stopping this engagement, we are going to leave a vacuum, and the question is, who is going to fill this vacuum?,”
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said in Doha on Tuesday,
The US-allied Gulf Arab state has emerged as a key part to the Taliban, having hosted the group’s political office since 2013.
No country has recognised the Taliban militant group as the ‘new government of Afghanistan’ after their capture of Kabul on August 15.
Many Western states have urged the group to form an inclusive government and to respect human rights – including the rights of women.
The Qatari foreign minister also warned the Taliban against any rise of “terrorism” after the US withdrawal and called for an inclusive government
“It is our role to always urge them (the Taliban) to have an expanded government that includes all parties and not to exclude any party” the foreign minister said.
Taliban members celebrated with gunfire in the many hours after the last US forces departed Kabul.
