Mohammad Naeem Wardak, spokesman of the Islamic Emirate’s political office in Doha, Qatar, says that the office is in contact with nearly 16 countries around the world on issues related to the caretaker government of Afghanistan, and it plays a constructive role in building relations with the world.
“One of the goals of this office was to reach out to the international community. In the past–you have been aware–we have made various trips to various countries in the region, to neighbors and beyond … and this is ongoing and our relations are still in place,” said Mohammad Naeem Wardak, spokesman for the political office of the Islamic Emirate in Qatar.
After the Islamic Emirate took control of Afghanistan, the United States and some European and Western countries moved their political representatives and diplomatic missions to Qatar. The political office of the Islamic Emirate in Qatar was the Islamic Emirate’s channel of communication with the United States during the previous government as well.
The political office of the Islamic Emirate in Qatar acted as a means to advance the peace process from its beginning to the time before the fall of the previous government.
Questions are raised about the role this office has played in building relations so far, since the takeover, as no country has recognized the Islamic Emirate. What role will this office play in establishing Kabul’s political relations with the world?
“The Islamic Emirate has made great use of this office to gain power, but since it took power, its efforts to gain legitimacy for the Islamic Emirate and its relations with the world have been hampered, and the lobbying of the Taliban’s political office in Qatar has not yet been successful,” said Javed Javed, an international relations expert.
“Many countries are pursuing political and security policies toward Afghanistan through their embassies in Doha, Qatar, and the Taliban wants to interact with them in this way,” said Fahim Kohdamani, a former diplomat.
The political office of the Islamic Emirate in Qatar began its activities in 2013 with the flag and title of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and with the financial support of the Qatari government.
Suhail Shaheen is now the chief of the Doha office.
