US-Taliban peace deal underlines Qatar’s role as peacemaker

Qatar’s mediation efforts to end the war in Afghanistan yesterday crossed a major milestone when the United States and the Taliban signed an agreement for bringing peace to the country in the presence of US Secretary of State, H E Mike Pompeo.

In his meeting with Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani after the agreement-signing ceremony, H E Mike Pompeo extended thanks to 

H H the Amir for hosting the signing ceremony of the peace agreement between the US and Taliban, and for undertaking the rounds of negotiations between the two sides to facilitate access to the agreement, appreciating the mediation efforts made by the State of Qatar to resolve disputes and bring peace to the region and the world.

To end years of war in Afghanistan, the US and the Taliban signed an agreement under which the US and its allies will withdraw their troops from Afghanistan within 14 months if the other side honours its commitment to the wide-ranging clauses of the pact mainly sticking to nonviolence.

Under the pact, among other things, the Taliban will not allow any of its members, other individuals or groups, including Al Qaeda, to use the soil of Afghanistan to threaten the security of the US and its allies. Also, the Taliban will send a clear message that those who pose a threat to the security of the US and its allies have no place in Afghanistan, and will instruct members of the Taliban not to cooperate with groups or individuals threatening the security of the US and its allies.

The agreement was signed by US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, from the US side and Head of Afghan Taliban Political Office, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar from the Taliban’s side.

The agreement was signed under the auspices of the State of Qatar, in the attendance of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, H E Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani; H E Mike Pompeo, and a number of Taliban leaders.

Sultanate of Oman’s Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, H E Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah; Foreign Minister of the Republic of Turkey, H E Mevlut Cavusoglu; Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, H E Shah Mahmood Qureshi; Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan, H E Rasit Meredow; Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, H E Abdulaziz Kamilov; Foreign Minister of Tajikistan, H E Sirodjidin Muhriddin; Foreign Minister of Indonesia, H E Retno Marsudi; Foreign Minister of Norway, H E Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide, Secretary-General of Pugwash International, H E Paolo Cotta-Ramusino, and Secretary-General of Shanghai Cooperation Organidation H E Vladimir Norov and a large number of ambassadors accredited to the State of Qatar attended the signing ceremony.

In his opening speech before the signing of the agreement, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said that the State of Qatar continued its mediation efforts to establish peace in Afghanistan, in accordance to the wise directions of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

H E termed the deal as a first step towards comprehensive and sustainable peace in Afghanistan. “The agreement must unite all segments of the Afghan society in order to start building the future.” The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted the State of Qatar’s initiative of holding the intra-Afghan conference, saying it placed the first building block of an expanded societal dialogue between all Afghan parties. 

H E the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs discussed the suffering of the Afghan people and the danger they have to go through as a result of threats of war and all its negative implications. “The State of Qatar appreciates the position taken by the US and the Taliban during all phases of negotiations and dialogues hosted in Doha, and their commitment to transparency and facing all challenges in order to achieve peace and resolve their differences.”

Praising the stopping of violence that started Saturday in Afghanistan, he stressed that it will save innocent lives and support peace and development efforts. 

H E the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign  Affairs reiterated Qatar’s firm belief in mediation as a main tool in achieving peace and resolving conflicts, which helped the country resolve many of the region’s crisis thanks to its credibility, transparency, and fairness.

He said that the State of Qatar’s government and people were happy to have the peace agreement between the US and the Taliban be signed on its land, adding that the agreement went through very long phases before ultimately being successful. 

His Excellency looked forward to the agreement being an important turning point on the path of stability and prosperity for the Afghan people and achieving its goals in security, development and prosperity. He called on the international community to make more efforts to face any challenges facing the desired peace in Afghanistan, and stressed that the State of Qatar would spare no effort in cooperating with members of the international community in that regard. 

H E Mike Pompeo started his speech at the signing ceremony by thanking H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for ‘Qatar’s invaluable role as host for these historic talks’ saying that H H the Amir’s unstinting support helped both sides reach that momentous day. 

“The United States and the Taliban have endured decades of hostility and mistrust. Previous talks faltered. This effort only became real for the United States when the Taliban signalled interest in pursuing peace and ending their relationship with Al Qaeda and other foreign terrorist groups. They also recognised that military victory was impossible. I then asked Ambassador Khalilzad to serve as our lead negotiator, to gauge the Taliban’s sincerity,” he added.

Pompeo further said: “The agreement we will sign today is the true test of this effort. We will closely watch the Taliban’s compliance with their commitments, and calibrate the pace of our withdrawal to their actions. This is how we will ensure that Afghanistan never again serves as a base for international terrorists.”

Pompeo said violence levels have reached their lowest point in the past four years. “US and Afghan forces responded to the reduced enemy attacks by also respecting peace. It was not perfect, but the Taliban demonstrated, even if for only one week, that when they have the will to be peaceful, they can be.”

He said that the Afghan people have rejoiced. “They’re moving freely about the country to visit family and friends... trading... and even dancing in the streets. But we are just at the beginning.”

He said that furthering the cause of peace will require serious work and sacrifice by all sides - the United States, the Coalition, the Taliban, the Afghan government, other Afghan leaders, and the Afghan people themselves - to maintain the momentum needed to reach a comprehensive, inclusive and durable peace.

“This agreement will mean nothing — and today’s good feelings will not last — if we don’t take concrete action on commitments stated and promises made.”

He said that to make the agreement a success, the Taliban will have to keep their promise to cut ties with Al Qaeda and other terrorists and keep up the fight against ISIS.

Pompeo said that significant escalation of violence will be cause for failure. “All Afghans deserve to live and prosper without fear.”

He asked the Taliban to sit down with the Afghan government, other Afghan political leaders, and civil society and start the difficult conversations on a political roadmap for Afghanistan. He further asked the Taliban to honour the rich diversity of Afghanistan and make room for all views further saying that previous Afghan governments had failed because they weren’t sufficiently inclusive.

“If you take these steps, if you stay the course and remain committed to negotiations with the Afghan government and other Afghan partners, we - and the rest of the international community - stand ready to reciprocate,” Pompeo said.

He said that the victory for Afghans will only be achieved when they can live in peace, and prosper. “Victory for the United States will only be achieved when Americans and our allies no longer have to fear a terrorist threat from Afghanistan. We will do whatever it takes to protect our people.”

He added: “The United States will press all sides to stay focused on the goal of a peaceful, prosperous, and sovereign Afghanistan, an Afghanistan free from malign foreign interference, where all voices and communities are heard and represented.”

Abdul Ghani Baradar expressed his gratitude to Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Qatari officials for supporting the negotiations for a long time.

He pointed out that Taliban made agreement with the United States and they are committed to enforcing the agreement.

“In addition, the (Taliban), as a political force, wants to build bridges of relations with neighboring countries and the international community ... we want fraternal relations with all countries. The Afghan nation has been suffering for four decades.” “We have suffered so much, and I hope that with the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan, after the agreement, the Afghan nation will be able to pursue a prosperous life.”

He added: “We all want unity and prosperity for our country, and for this reason I call on all Afghan parties to lay the foundations of an established Islamic system, and we want those parties to come to the negotiating table and promote Islamic values for Afghanistan.”