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Qatar, Turkey and UAE in talks to operate Kabul airport
Qatar, Turkey, and the UAE are reportedly in discussions with Afghan officials to operate Kabul’s main airport, Turkey’s Daily Sabah reported on Monday, citing comments made by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
Numerous reports have emerged in recent weeks that Qatar and Turkey have been in talks with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) government about taking over the operational side of the airport.
“It is normal that different countries make offers during that process,” Daily Sabah cited Cavusoglu.
This comes after Qatar and Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between themselves over operating five airports in Afghanistan, but they have yet to reach an agreement with the IEA.
“Our friends in Doha continued to discuss what can be done if the joint company [of Qatar and Turkey] take on the operation of the airport,” said Cavusoglu.
Meanwhile, the Daily Sabah reported that airport operations had been on the agenda of a recent meeting between UAE’s ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara last month.
“They (UAE) said we may operate the airport trilaterally,” said Cavusoglu.
But he added that no serious discussion over such a scenario had so far taken place.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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