UAE, Interim Afghan Government Vow to Boost Bilateral Cooperation

Sirajuddin Haqqani commends UAE’s humanitarian assistance to Afghan people

Tue Jan 21 2025
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ABU DHABI: President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan on Tuesday received Afghanistan’s interim Minister of Interior Sirajuddin Haqqani and discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation.

The parties discussed recent developments in Afghanistan and reviewed bilateral ties, the Emirates News Agency reported.

During the meeting at Qasr Al-Shati in Abu Dhabi they looked at efforts to support Afghanistan’s stability and promote prosperity for its people.

Haqqani commended the level of cooperation between Abu Dhabi and Kabul and praised the UAE’s humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.

Meanwhile, the Taliban government in Afghanistan has announced the release by the United States of an Afghan prisoner in exchange for US detainees, saying the deal was brokered by Qatar.

According to CNN, Donald Trump was officially back in the White House when Americans Ryan Corbett and William McKenty were handed over and, on their way, home early Tuesday, exchanged for Afghan Taliban member Khan Mohammed who was convicted in 2008 on narco-terrorism charges. Mohammed had been flown by officials from the US to Doha.

Earlier this month the foreign minister of the Afghan interim government, Amir Khan Muttaqi, met with Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE foreign minister, during his visit to Abu Dhabi.

According to a statement released by the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two discussed bilateral relations, economic cooperation, and regional development during their meeting.

The statement noted that it was decided to initiate technical efforts to enhance trade between Afghanistan and the UAE and to facilitate marketing opportunities for Afghan traders.

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Meanwhile, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement in which Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan reiterated his country’s commitment to supporting a prosperous, stable, and developed Afghanistan.

The Taliban share economic relations with the UAE, which won projects to run operations at Kabul airport in 2022. Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, has also met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi in June.

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