Afghan Taliban Ambassador In Qatar ‘Praises Qatar’s Role In Expanding Afghanistan’s Relations With The World,’ Criticizes U.S. For Violating Doha Agreement
According to a report published by Tolo News, Suhail Shaheen, the ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA, i.e., the Afghan Taliban) in Doha, has praised Qatar’s “significant role” in expanding the Taliban’s relations with different countries.
“The Islamic Emirate’s Embassy in Qatar is active, and the interim government of Afghanistan has been able to establish connections with various countries around the world through this embassy,” Suhail Shaheen said, according to the January 25, 2025 Tolo News report.[1]
While the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) grants the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan $50 million for the education of youth,[2] Suhail Shaheen, who heads the Islamic Emirate’s Political Office in Doha, has also criticized the United States for violating the 2020 Doha agreement by not removing sanctions on certain Taliban leaders and praised Qatar for promoting the Taliban regime in the world.[3]
Regarding the activities of the Political Office of the Islamic Emirate in Doha, Suhail Shaheen added: “Here, I meet with delegations from different countries every day or every other day, especially with European ambassadors to Afghanistan, who number thirteen. We try to encourage them to visit Afghanistan, and some have already traveled and met with our senior officials.”[4]
Following is a translation of the January 25 report by Tolo News:
“The Islamic Emirate Praises Qatar’s Role In Expanding Afghanistan’s Relations With The World
“Suhail Shaheen, the ambassador of the Islamic Emirate in Qatar, has described Doha’s role in expanding the interim [Taliban] government’s relations with the world as significant. Mr. Shaheen told Tolo News that Afghanistan’s relations with Qatar are currently friendly in various sectors.
“The ambassador of the Islamic Emirate in Doha stated: Our relations with Qatar are friendly and brotherly, and we cooperate with them in various fields. It should be noted that we welcome Qatar’s investment in Afghanistan. The Islamic Emirate’s embassy in Qatar is active, and the interim government of Afghanistan has been able to establish connections with various countries around the world through this embassy.
“Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, said regarding Qatar’s role with Afghanistan: ‘The good relations and the consistent role of Qatar regarding countries and its cooperation with Afghanistan have always been positive, and now it is making its best efforts for Afghanistan to have good interactions with other countries, consistently acting as a good mediator in this regard.’
“Meanwhile, some political analysts also consider Qatar’s role in ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan important. Zalmai Afghan Yar, a political analyst, says: ‘Over the past two decades, Qatar has played a key role in Afghanistan’s political affairs and has had a crucial role in signing the Doha Agreement. In the past three and a half years, as Afghanistan has faced isolation, Qatar has been trying to manage Afghanistan’s interactions with regional and transregional countries while maintaining its national interests.’
“Qatar has had a significant role in Afghanistan’s international engagements, especially since the Islamic Emirate came to power in the country in 2021. But what role can Qatar play in Afghanistan’s economic growth?
“Abdul Zahoor Madbar, a political analyst, has stated: ‘Qatar, as a mediator country, has apparently acted as a seemingly good intermediary. Given that we are experiencing an economic downturn, any opening can create hope for us. Therefore, in the past and over the past three years, it has had good economic performance as well.’
“Qatar has acted as the main host of peace negotiations between the Islamic Emirate and the former Afghan government, as well as in the Islamic Emirate’s talks with the United States and other Western countries. These negotiations, held in Doha, led to the peace agreement between the Islamic Emirate and the United States in 2020.”
[1] ToloNews (Afghanistan), January 25, 2025.
[2] ToloNews (Afghanistan), December 10, 2024.
[3] ToloNews (Afghanistan), December 9, 2024.
[4] ToloNews (Afghanistan), December 9, 2024.