Qatar to host Afghanistan peace negotiations

Sep 10, 2020

Qatar will host peace negotiations on the conflict in Afghanistan beginning Sept. 12. The Gulf state previously hosted negotiations between the United States and the Taliban.

The deliberations will take place in the Qatari capital Doha, the state-run Qatar News Agency reported on Thursday. The US-backed Afghan government and the Islamist Taliban organization will participate.

Qatar has demonstrated a willingness to host negotiations on conflicts before. In February, the United States and NATO agreed to remove all their troops from the South Asian country within 14 months after negotiations in Qatar with the Taliban. The United States and allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 following the Sept. 11 attacks. The Taliban governed Afghanistan at the time and harbored al-Qaeda, which carried out the attacks.

Ahead of the talks, Qatar also agreed to take some Taliban prisoners amid a dispute between the Taliban and the Afghan government.

In Gaza, Qatar mediated the Aug. 31 cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas.