Skip to main content

Intel: Qatar to represent US diplomatic interests in Afghanistan

Qatar will act as the formal diplomatic messenger between Afghanistan's Taliban leaders and Washington.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers remarks following talks on the situation in Afghanistan.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers remarks following talks on the situation in Afghanistan at the State Department in Washington, DC, on Aug. 30, 2021. The United States embarked on a "new" chapter regarding Afghanistan and shifted its diplomatic operations to Qatar, Blinken said, as he expressed commitment to helping every American who wants to leave the war-weary nation. — JONATHAN ERNST/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Qatar will formally represent US diplomatic interests in Afghanistan and help facilitate Washington’s engagement with the country’s new Islamist rulers, Secretary of State Blinken announced on Friday. 

The tiny Gulf country will act as the “protecting power” for the United States in Afghanistan under an agreement signed Friday in Washington by Blinken and Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. 

Related Topics

Subscribe for unlimited access

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more

$14 monthly or $100 annually ($8.33/month)
OR

Continue reading this article for free

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more.

By signing up, you agree to Al-Monitor’s Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Already have an account? Log in