Qatar’s mediation efforts for US-Taliban accord lauded

Welcoming the US-Taliban peace agreement, dignitaries from different countries, diplomats as well as Taliban leaders have lauded Qatar’s contribution towards reaching a peace pact. The US-Taliban peace agreement was signed in Doha on Saturday.  

The Sultanate of Oman’s Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, H E Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, welcomed the US-Taliban agreement for bringing peace in Afghanistan saying that it was a step towards establishing peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.

 Talking to media persons on Saturday after attending peace pact signing ceremony, H E also lauded Qatar’s mediation efforts to end years-old war in Afghanistan. He stressed that all countries had an important role to play in helping Afghanistan achieve sustainable peace. 

 The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, H E Mevlut Cavusoglu, praised on Saturday the decisive role of Qatar in ensuring the success of talks between the US and the Taliban, congratulating the leadership, government, and people of the State of Qatar on the achievement.

The Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs told reporters that the agreement was one of the historic moments in the journey towards Afghan peace, adding that it was due to independent and active Qatari diplomacy, QNA reported. His Excellency praised the achievement despite the difficulties it faced, stressing his country’s support to efforts that would lead to peace in Afghanistan. Cavusoglu said that February 29 agreement had set the stage for intra-Afghan talks, expressing hope that those talks would start soon and lead to a sustainable and comprehensive peace for the Afghan people. 
Talking to The Peninsula, Pakistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shah Mahmood Qureshi,  termed the signing of US-Taliban peace agreement as ‘historic’. “There were many obstacles and spoilers but ultimately the dialogue succeeded. Now all eyes are set on intra-Afghan dialogue scheduled to be held next month.” He said that he was confident that clauses agreed in the accord would be implemented by the both sides. “There was and there is no military solution to Afghanistan crisis.” Praising Qatar’s perseverance in hosting US-Taliban talks for years, Qureshi said that it was due to mature vision of Qatar’s leadership that the process of dialogue had reached the success stage.
Talking to media persons, the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ Special Envoy for Counterterrorism and Mediation in Conflict Resolution, Dr. Mutlaq bin Majed Al Qahtani, said that the negotiation period of peace deal between the US and the Taliban was very long and tough but with the help of all parties deal was ultimately signed.
Talking to The Peninsula, Katsuhiko Takahashi, Director-General and Assistant Minister for the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, as well as Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan of MOFA Japan, said: “We appreciate Qatar’s efforts to prepare such a good setting for the signing ceremony. Presence of international community in the signing ceremony really demonstrates that the world is trying to back this process so that the peace is durable. Japan is ready to continue in working together with international community to realise this goal.”  
“The presence of the Taliban’s political office in Doha really is a very important element in this process because without a specific channel of communication of the Taliban, the international community will feel at a loss, which wants to communicate. This is really important thing and this is what Qatar is good at doing. This initiative made by Qatar’s government had a very important impact on this process,” said Katsuhiko Takahashi.
Talking to The Peninsula, Ambassador of Turkey to Qatar, Fikret Ozer, lauded Qatar for playing key mediation role for the peace deal which was signed between the US and the Taliban. “I wish for people of Afghanistan, Pakistan and neighboring countries peace and stability. Qatar played key role for the peace deal between the US and the Taliban,” said the Ambassador while talking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the signing ceremony. Fikret Ozer hoped that the peace deal would be beginning for solving over two decades long fight.
The Ambassador of South Korea to Qatar, Chang-mo KIM, said that it was very historic moment to witness the peace deal between the US and the Taliban. “Qatar played very good role to make these talks a success. I think it is just a starting point; there is a long way to go. The peace deal will bring stability and prosperity to Afghanistan,” said Chang-mo KIM while talking to The Peninsula.
Rashad Ismayilov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Qatar, said that the US and the Taliban signed a historic deal which would bring peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan. “Qatar played very important role to make the peace deal possible. I hope that future negotiations will be held successfully,” said Rashad Ismayilov while talking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the signing ceremony. He said that the peace deal would bring stability in Afghanistan and neighbouring countries.
 Suhail Shahheen, the spokesperson for the Taliban’s political office in Qatar, said that the Taliban were committed to the agreement signed in Doha. He said that the Taliban hoped to achieve a permanent solution to war in Afghanistan.
He said that Qatar’s role was critical to reach the agreement further saying that Qatar had ironed out difficulties and challenges facing the peace process. 
Another central leader of the Taliban, Amir Khan Muttaqi, said: “Today is a historic day that the peace deal has been signed. Now we all move ahead to have peace in Afghanistan. The signing of the agreement is a milestone; the beginning of a new process.”