The discussions came three days after Qatar facilitated the release of a 66-year-old U.S citizen on Thursday.Qatar and Afghanistan’s Taliban-led caretaker government have discussed the latest developments in Kabul, along with the Gulf state’s most recent mediation efforts that resulted in the release of U.S. citizen George Glezmann.The discussions took place in Kabul on Sunday between the Acting Chargé d’Affaires at the Qatari Embassy in Afghanistan, Mirdef Al-Qashouti, and Interim Afghan Foreign Minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi. “The country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs considered the recent progress with the United States important and also thanked the State of Qatar for its facilitation and cooperation,” Hafiz Zia, the Afghan foreign ministry’s deputy spokesman, said on X.The Qatari diplomat has also reiterated his country’s commitment to cooperation with Afghanistan during the meeting, Zia added.The discussions came three days after Qatar facilitated the release of Glezmann, a 66-year-old Delta Airlines mechanic last Thursday following more than two years of detainment by the Taliban.Glezmann had travelled to Afghanistan in December 2022 “to explore the cultural landscape and rich history of the country”, according to the U.S. Congress.His release was announced shortly after a meeting in Kabul between the Taliban-led authorities and a U.S. delegation that included the special envoy for hostages, Adam Boehler, and former envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad.The U.S. delegation was the first to hold meetings with the Taliban in Afghanistan since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January. Such meetings have been taking place in third countries, including Doha, which has hosted the Taliban office since 2013 under Washington’s request.The U.S. ended its diplomatic presence in Afghanistan after its chaotic withdrawal from the country in 2021 following the Taliban’s takeover. At the time, Qatar carried out history’s largest airlift of people by evacuating more than 80,000 Afghans and foreigners while moving the U.S. embassy from Kabul to Doha,In November of the same year, Qatar and the U.S. agreed that Doha represented Washington’s diplomatic interests in Kabul. The agreement resulted in many successful efforts to release detainees from Afghanistan. In January, Qatar mediated the release of U.S. citizens Ryan Corbett and William McKenty from Afghanistan in exchange for Khan Mohammed, a Taliban member who was serving a life sentence.Meanwhile, in 2022, Qatar assisted in the release of U.S. aid worker, Safi Rauf, and his brother, Anees Khalil, a British citizen, following months in Taliban custody.  The same year saw Qatar’s successful facilitation of the release of U.S. navy veteran Mark Frerichs after more than two years of captivity in Afghanistan. (ICE Doha)

Fonte notizia: DOHA NEWS