- Doha has become a key broker in Afghanistan since US withdrawal, helping evacuations at Kabul airport.
- We need to make sure that everything is addressed very clearly otherwise… we are not able to take any responsibility, says Qatari FM.
- Qatar Airways planes have made several trips to Kabul, flying in aid and Doha’s representatives and ferrying out foreigners.
DOHA: Qatar has warned it would not take responsibility for operations of Hamid Karzai International Airport without “clear” agreements with all the authorities concerned, including the Taliban.
Doha has become a key broker in Afghanistan following last month’s withdrawal of US forces, helping evacuate thousands of foreigners and Afghans, engaging the new Taliban rulers and supporting operations at Kabul airport.
“We need to make sure that everything is addressed very clearly otherwise… we are not able to take any responsibility of the airport (if) all these things are not addressed,” Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said at a press briefing.
“Right now the status is still (under) negotiation because we need to have an agreement that’s clear for everyone for all the parties and who is going to take care of the technical (side), who’s going to take care of the security aspects.”
“There is a possibility for collaboration with other countries if needed, but until now the discussion is only among us, Turkey and the Taliban.”
Since the US pullout, Qatar Airways planes have made several trips to Kabul, flying in aid and Doha’s representatives and ferrying out foreign passport holders.
A Pakistan International Airlines jet landed in Kabul Monday, marking the first international commercial flight since the US withdrawal.
It then made a return flight to Islamabad with about 70 people on board — mostly Afghans who were relatives of staffers with…