The State of Qatar has emerged as one of the world’s most active neutral peacemakers, mediating in many regional and intra-national conflicts in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The country has established itself as a successful and honest broker interested in bringing peace and stability. Its mediation in Lebanon, Yemen, border conflicts between Eritrea and Djibouti, and in Sudan’s Darfur and East Sudan, and US-Taliban deals are some of the most prominent in its mediation record. Qatar’s diplomacy is well aware that the way to peace is long and hard, therefore its patience, quiet and persistent efforts lasted for more than 10 years, which yesterday, resulted in the signing of a historic agreement between the US and the Taliban movement.
According to the Doha accord, the two parties announced the end of the 19-year-war in the nation, which is a crucial move towards achieving a comprehensive peace in Afghanistan. People in Afghanistan, who suffered from this war since 2001, celebrated the peace even before signing the agreement, showing their strong desire and eagerness to restore peace and stability in the country.
The deal was signed by US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in the presence of Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and US Secretary of State H E Mike Pompeo and Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Pakistan and Oman and scores of diplomats. This historic deal is a step toward a comprehensive peace encompassing all Afghans and, at the same time, paving the way for a full withdrawal of all US and coalition forces from Afghanistan over the next 14 months. There is no winner in a peace deal except the entire nation of Afghanistan, as the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated, “victory for Afghans will only be achieved when they can live in peace and prosper” and what the parties have done is that they seized “the best opportunity for peace in a generation," Pompeo added.
Afghan government and many countries in the region and NATO member countries have welcomed the peace deal, promising to exert efforts in good-faith to ensure its success and help prevail permanent peace in the nation. The deal is victory for all parties, as no one loses from peace, but will remain an outstanding achievement for Qatar as a peacemaker. The fact that Qatar passed 1,000 days under the unjust blockade imposed by its neighbours, coinciding with the day the US and Taliban signed the peace deal in capital Doha deserves a special mention.
