RASC News Agency: Mahmmoud Saiqal, the former Afghanistan ambassador to the United Nations, has strongly condemned the recent scholarship agreement between Qatar and Indonesia, accusing Qatar of being instrumental in transforming Afghanistan into a “global terror hub” and a “prison for women.” Saikal expressed his dismay, noting that the agreement suggests “as if Afghanistan belongs to Qatar.” This agreement, signed between Qatar’s Deputy Foreign Minister and Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, offers Afghanistani students scholarships to study in Indonesia. The objective of the agreement is to enhance the human capital of Afghan citizens through educational scholarships provided by Indonesia.
Saikal emphasized that any agreement concerning Afghanistan must include a representative of the legitimate Afghanistan government. He further criticized Qatar for reinstating the Taliban to power and remarked that Qatar, acting on Afghanistan’s behalf, now engages in agreements while being responsible for turning the country into “a global terror hub and a prison for women.” Moreover, Saikal attributed Qatar’s double-dealing policies to the turmoil in the Middle East, stating: “The destruction of Gaza and Lebanon, and the killing of their leaders and civilians, is closely linked to Qatar’s duplicitous mediation efforts.” Qatar has been a staunch supporter of Hamas and has long hosted its leaders.
For years, Qatar hosted the Taliban’s political office in Doha and facilitated negotiations between the Taliban and the United States. Additionally, the initial, though unsuccessful, intra-Afghanistan peace talks were held in Doha. The Taliban maintain strong relations with Qatar, and Qatar’s Prime Minister is among the few foreign officials who have allegedly met the reclusive Taliban leader in Kandahar. This critical view of Qatar’s role in Afghanistan’s destabilization highlights the wider regional implications of its policies, suggesting a complex geopolitical dynamic that has far-reaching consequences for both Afghanistan and the Middle East.
