Qatar

DOHA, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Qatar believes that recognising the Taliban government in Afghanistan is not a priority now, and that the focus should be on engaging with the new administration and addressing humanitarian issues, a senior Qatari official said on Tuesday.

Mutlaq Al-Qahtani, special envoy of the Qatari foreign minister, urged other countries to engage more deeply with the Taliban as Afghanistan's de facto authority, while urging the Islamist movement to act as a "responsible" administration and respect the right of women to work and girls to attend school.

07 Oct 2021; MEMO: Qatar and UAE are reportedly looking to host this year's Club World Cup following Japan's decision to withdraw from holding the competition last month due to coronavirus concerns.

03 Oct 2021; MEMO: Qataris voted on Saturday in the Gulf Arab state's first legislative elections for two-thirds of the advisory Shura Council, a process that has stirred domestic debate about electoral inclusion and citizenship, reports Reuters.

20 Sep 2021; MEMO: Secretary-General of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), Ali Al-Qaradaghi yesterday urged the Taliban government in Afghanistan to "establish a just rule".

"Dr. Al-Qaradaghi has recommended the [Afghan] government place its priority in establishing a just rule that will be a model of the Islam of justice and the Islam of mercy," IUMS said in a statement.

DOHA, Sept 8 (NNN-QNA) – The United States and Qatar, yesterday urged the Afghan Taliban, to live up to its commitment to facilitate the evacuations from Afghanistan.

The appeal came at a joint press conference, by U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary, Lloyd Austin, with Qatari Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Khalid Al-Attiyah.

DOHA, Sept 7 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken denied on Tuesday reports that the Taliban had blocked Americans attempting to fly out of of a northern Afghan city, but said the group had not allowed charter flights to depart because some people lacked valid travel documents.

Reports have emerged over the past few days that 1,000 people, including Americans, had been stuck at Mazar-i-Sharif airport for days awaiting clearance for their charter flights to leave.

DOHA, Sept 6 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Qatar on Monday as Washington seeks support for the evacuation of Americans and at-risk Afghans left behind in Afghanistan and build a consensus among allies on how to respond to the Taliban.

A senior State Department official told reporters on Blinken's flight that Washington has facilitated the safe departure of four more Americans overland from Afghanistan. 

06 Sep 2021; MEMO: Israel will fully open its crossings with Gaza and facilitate ending the crises in the besieged enclave, the Qatari envoy said this morning in a statement.

The Israeli decision comes after meetings were held over the past few days in an effort to stablise the situation and deescalate tensions in Gaza, Mohammed Al-Emadi said. There were positive results from the meetings and these would form a foundation for resolving all other outstanding issues relating to improving the lives of Palestinians.

06 Sep 2021; MEMO: Qatar yesterday condemned the Syrian regime's "brutal attack" on Daraa, saying it led to the displacement of dozens of families.

DOHA, Sept 2 (Reuters) - British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Thursday there is a need to engage with the Taliban on Afghanistan, but Britain has no immediate plans to recognise their government.

Raab was speaking during a joint press conference with Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in Doha, where he visited housing for refugees evacuated from Afghanistan after the Taliban swept to power last month.