Raab, in Qatar, cites need to engage with Taliban

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said yesterday there is a need to engage with the Taliban on Afghanistan, but Britain has no immediate plans to recognise their government.

Raab was speaking during a joint press conference with Qatari Foreign Minister Shaikh Mohammad bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani in Doha, where he visited housing for refugees evacuated from Afghanistan.

Shaikh Mohammad said Qatar was talking with the Taliban and working with Turkey for potential technical support to restart operations at Kabul airport.

Regional stability

Raab said he had discussed with Qatari officials ensuring Afghanistan does not harbour terrorism in the future, preventing a humanitarian crisis, preserving regional stability and holding the Taliban to account on their public pledge to set up a more inclusive government.

“Our commitment on the part of the United Kingdom to Afghanistan remains. We need to adjust to the new reality,” Raab told reporters.

“Our immediate priority is to secure the safe passage of those remaining British nationals, and also the Afghans who worked for the UK, and others who may be at the most risk,” he said, adding that he would be talking to regional leaders about securing safe passage through third countries.