Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, the foreign minister of Qatar, on Sunday became the first high-ranking foreign official to visit Kabul after the Taliban took power.
Qatar has been among the countries believed to have most influence over the Taliban, given its role in hosting the Taliban's political office and facilitating negotiations with the US in recent years. Moreover, since the Taliban takeover, Qatar was a major transit point for receiving evacuation flights from Afghanistan.
Qatar's foreign ministry announced Sheikh Mohammed met Afghanistan's new Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hasan Akhund in the presidential palace.
Reuters reported the meeting was attended by "Afghan ministers including Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Defence Minister Yaqoob Mujahid, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani and intelligence chief Abdul Haq Wasiq".
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Sheikh Mohammed called on the Taliban government to "involve all Afghan parties in national reconciliation". The Qatari foreign ministry said Sheikh Mohammed also discussed "concerted efforts to combat terrorist organisations that threaten the stability of Afghanistan", ways to enhance peace in the country and the safe passage of people, Reuters reported.
Sheikh Mohammed also met Abdullah Abdullah, a senior official in the previous Afghan government, and former Afghan president Hamid Karzai.
