Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin arrive in Qatar to discuss US-Afghanistan relations

Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin arrive in Qatar to discuss US-Afghanistan relations
September 7, 2021, 8:53 am

Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin

The We For News reported, the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Qatar Monday ahead of their meeting with Qatari leaders to thank the nation for its support in the evacuation efforts in Afghanistan, and to discuss the future of US-Afghanistan relations.

According to the Indian news website, the State Department said ahead of Blinken’s arrival in Doha at 1500 GMT: “We are thankful for Qatar’s close collaboration on Afghanistan and its indispensable support in facilitating the transit of US citizens, Embassy Kabul personnel, at-risk Afghans, and other evacuees from Afghanistan through Qatar.”

The We For News said that Qatar, which hosts a major US airbase, has been the gateway for 55,000 people airlifted out of Afghanistan, nearly half the total number evacuated by US-led forces after the Taliban’s lightning takeover.

It noted that before his arrival, Blinken said that in Qatar he would “express our deep gratitude for all that they’re doing to support the evacuation effort” and meet rescued Afghans.

It added, he will also meet US diplomats, who have relocated functions from the shuttered embassy in Kabul to Doha.

The State Department said Blinken would discuss with Qatar its efforts, alongside Turkey, to reopen Kabul’s ramshackle airport — essential to fly in badly needed humanitarian aid and to evacuate remaining Afghans.

The Taliban on Monday claimed total control over Afghanistan, saying they had won the key battle for the Panjshir Valley, the last remaining holdout of resistance against their rule.

Source: wefornews

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