Qatar, 18 August 2021 (TDI): A delegation of Afghan political leaders led by top peace official Abdullah Abdullah applied for temporary asylum in Qatar. They were in Qatar for the Doha Talks with the Taliban. The government delegation that ceased to exist has appealed to the government of Qatar for support. A local Afghan news agency reported that the asylum was sought “until the inception of an inclusive government in Afghanistan”.
There were ongoing talks in Doha since September 2020 between the Taliban and former government officials. These talks were facing stalemate after the peace negotiations agenda was not moving ahead.
Afghan government led by Ashraf Ghani was toppled in a dramatic chain of events on August 15 where the Taliban took over Kabul. Ashraf Ghani fled with his family to UAE.
