Ambassador Syed Ahsan Raza Shah welcomed 7 member high level TPC delegation headed by Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanakzai at Embassy of Pakistan, Doha. (Photo Pakistan Embassy Qatar)
Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen said the two sides held talks over humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and issues related to facilitating people’s movement at Torkhan and Spinboldak, reports Asian Lite News
A senior Taliban delegation led by Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanekzai met with the Pakistani Embassy officials in Qatar on Friday where the two delegations discussed issues concerning the current developments in Afghanistan.
Taking to Twitter, Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen said the two sides held talks over humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and issues related to facilitating people’s movement at Torkhan and Spinboldak.
“Sher M. Abbas Stanikzai, Deputy Director of the Political Office and his delegation met Pakistan Ambassador to Qatar and his delegation. Both sides discussed the current Afghan situation, humanitarian assistance, bilateral relations based on mutual interest and respect, reconstruction of Afghanistan and issues related to facilitating people’s movement at Torkhan and Spinboldak,” Shaheen tweeted.
Ambassador Syed Ahsan Raza Shah welcomed 7 member high level TPC delegation headed by Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanakzai at Embassy of Pakistan, Doha. (Photo Pakistan Embassy Qatar)
This meet comes following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and subsequent refugees crises caused due to the weeks-long intense violence. Earlier this week, Pakistan closed its Chaman border with Afghanistan citing security concerns.
“We want peace and stability in Afghanistan. We have put up a fence on the border,” the Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said, as quoted by The Express Tribune.
Rashid added that “due to some concerns” the border at Chaman was being closed temporarily. “However, we will not allow chaos to spread. There are no Americans left in Pakistan. Those who came have left”, he said.
The two sides held talks over humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and issues related to facilitating people’s movement at Torkhan and Spinboldak. (Photo Pakistan Embassy Qatar)
Pedestrian traffic through Pakistan’s south-western Chaman border crossing has swiftly increased after the Taliban’s hostile takeover of Afghanistan over the last few weeks.
The situation on the Afghan-Pakistani border has remained tense due to the influx of refugees from Afghanistan. Multiple reports said that the Pakistani forces had opened fire at the Afghan refugees at the Torkham border crossing. (ANI)
Turkey could be providing the potential technical support to restart operations at the airport…reports Asian Lite News
Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Thursday informed that the state is discussing with the Taliban to reopen Hamid Karzai International Airport.
Turkey could be providing the potential technical support to restart operations at the airport, Al Jazeera reported citing Abdulrahman Al Thani.
“We are working very hard (and) we remain hopeful that we will be able to operate it as soon as possible… Hopefully in the next few days, we will hear some good news,” the Qatari foreign minister said at a press conference with his British counterpart Dominic Raab in Doha.
Meanwhile, Raab also said that there is a need to engage with the Taliban in Afghanistan, but Britain has no immediate plans to recognise their government.
“UK is not going to recognise the Taliban anytime in the foreseeable future”, adding that he will judge Taliban by their actions, not by their words.
Raab arrived in Qatar on Thursday morning to discuss the Afghanistan situation with Qatar Foreign Minister in Doha.
In another recent development, Taliban Political office Deputy Head Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai on Wednesday met Turkey’s Ambassador to Qatar Mustafa Goksu at the Taliban’s office in Doha.
According to Taliban spokesperson Mohammad Naeem, Turkey’s Ambassador to Qatar Goksu promised that Turkey will continue its relations and cooperation with Afghanistan, reported TOLOnews.
The Taliban on Wednesday also informed that supreme leader Haibatullah Akhunzada will be the Head of the new Afghan government.
Reports also indicate that there will also be a Prime Minister post in the next government in Afghanistan, Tolo News reported.
Meanwhile, Ramiz Alakbarov, Deputy Special Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan, stressed that while the UN remains “determined to deliver”, more funding is needed to reach millions who depend on aid to survive.
He reported that more than half of all under-fives are suffering from extreme malnutrition, and more than one-third of citizens are not getting enough to eat.
“It is extremely important that we prevent Afghanistan from descending into a further humanitarian catastrophe by taking the necessary steps to provide essential items which this country needs right now. And that is to support food, health and protection services, and non-food items, to those who are in extreme need,” Alakbarov said while speaking from the capital, Kabul.
In recent days, the UN has flown medical supplies into the Mazar-i-Sharif airport in northern Afghanistan, while some 600 metric tonnes of food were delivered by trucks coming over the border from Pakistan. (ANI/IANS)
A special representative is meeting with senior Taliban representatives in Doha to underline the importance of safe passage out of Afghanistan for British nationals, and those Afghans who have worked with UK, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
The UK government has begun talks with the Taliban to secure safe passage out of Afghanistan for a number of British nationals and Afghans who still remain in the war-torn country, media reported.
According to a BBC report, the talks, involving UK officials and “senior” Taliban members, are taking place in Doha, Qatar, No 10 said.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is understood to have told MPs that between 150-250 people eligible for relocation – plus their families – remain in the country, it was reported.
Commenting on the UK-Taliban negotiations, a No 10 spokesman said, as quoted by BBC: “The prime minister’s special representative for Afghan transition, Simon Gass, has travelled to Doha and is meeting with senior Taliban representatives to underline the importance of safe passage out of Afghanistan for British nationals, and those Afghans who have worked with us over the past 20 years.”
On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said more than 17,000 people had been evacuated by the UK from Afghanistan so far, including over 5,000 UK nationals.
Meanwhile, responding to UN Security Council resolution on Afghanistan, Raab said it is a strong signal of the determination within the international community to send a clear message to the Taliban and set clear expectations of the new Afghan government.
“The resolution calls for safe passage for all those who wish to leave, urgent humanitarian access and respect for human rights, and insists that Afghan territory must not be used to threaten or attack any other country or to shelter and train terrorists,” Raab said in a statement.
Afghans who worked for UK can stay permanently
The government said a significant cross-government effort, dubbed ‘Operation Warm Welcome’, is underway to ensure Afghans arriving in the UK receive the vital support they need to rebuild their lives, find work, pursue education and integrate into their local communities.
As part of the New Plan for Immigration, the government announced that those coming to the UK through resettlement routes would receive immediate indefinite leave to remain.
Home Secretary Priti Patel is announcing on Wednesday that this will apply to Afghans who worked closely with the British military and UK Government in Afghanistan, and risked their lives in doing so, meaning they can now stay in the UK without any time restrictions.
People already relocated to the UK under the Afghanistan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) will be able to apply free of charge to convert their temporary leave into indefinite leave.
To give children and young adults the best start in life the government is making at least £12 million available to prioritise additional school places so children can be enrolled as soon as possible, and to provide school transport, specialist teachers and English language support to assist with learning.
In a statement, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We owe an immense debt to those who worked with the Armed Forces in Afghanistan and I am determined that we give them and their families the support they need to rebuild their lives here in the UK.”
“I know this will be an incredibly daunting time, but I hope they will take heart from the wave of support and generosity already expressed by the British public,” he added.
Further funding will be provided for up to 300 undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships for Afghans at UK universities and adults will also be able to access English language courses free of charge. While many will speak English through their work with the UK Government and British Forces, and as translators, language classes will ensure all their family members can fully integrate into their local communities.
Families who need support navigating the system will also have access to liaison officers who can work with local authorities to help them get set up with a GP, National Insurance number, school place, accommodation and more tailored support, as required.
The Qatari foreign minister also warned against any rise of “terrorism” after the US withdrawal and called for an inclusive government…reports Asian Lite News
Qatar’s foreign minister has warned that isolating the Taliban could lead to further instability and urged countries to engage with the movement to address security and socioeconomic concerns in Afghanistan.
“If we are starting to put conditions and stopping this engagement, we are going to leave a vacuum, and the question is, who is going to fill this vacuum?,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said in Doha on Tuesday, alongside his German counterpart, Heiko Maas, Al Jazeera reported.
The US-allied Gulf Arab state has emerged as a key interlocutor to the Taliban, having hosted the group’s political office since 2013.
“We believe that without engagement we cannot reach … real progress on the security front or on the socioeconomic front,” Sheikh Mohammed said, adding that recognising the Taliban as the government was not a priority.
(Image Source ANI)
The Qatari foreign minister also warned against any rise of “terrorism” after the US withdrawal and called for an inclusive government, the report said.
“It is our role to always urge them (the Taliban) to have an expanded government that includes all parties and not to exclude any party.
“During our talks with the Taliban, there was no positive or negative response,” al-Thani said, referring to recent talks between Qatar and Afghanistan’s new rulers.
Ambassador of India to Qatar, Deepak Mittal, meets Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, the Head of Taliban’s Political Office in Doha on the request of Taliban, reports Asian Lite News
After the US completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan, Taliban initiated dialogue with India in Qatar over safety, security and early return of Indian nationals stranded over there, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday.
For the first time, India has made public a meeting held between the two sides.
The ministry stated that Ambassador of India to Qatar, Deepak Mittal, met Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, the Head of Taliban’s Political Office in Doha.
“The meeting took place at the Embassy of India, Doha, on the request of the Taliban side,” said the ministry.
Discussions focused on safety, security and early return of Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan. The travel of Afghan nationals, especially minorities, who wish to visit to India also came up.
Ambassador Mittal raised India’s concern that Afghanistan’s soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and terrorism in any manner.
Stanekzai assured the Ambassador that these issues would be positively addressed.
Stanekzai, known as Sheru, trained in the Indian Military Academy in the 1982, rose to the ranks of Deputy Health Minister during the Taliban regime, and later served as a chief peace negotiator in Doha.
He was also Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Taliban regime. The 58-year-old Pashtun comes from the Stanekzai clan. He can speak five languages and he served as Taliban’s Political Office chief between 2015-2019.
Taliban had seized the war-ravaged country’s capital Kabul on August 15 after then President, Ashraf Ghani fled the country.
On August 30, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution on Afghanistan, aiming to prevent the use of Afghan soil by terrorist organisations against any country.
The resolution was adopted with 13 votes in favour while Russia and China preferred to abstain.
Taliban asks countries to reopen embassies
As the US forces exited Afghanistan on Tuesday, the Taliban have asked countries to reopen their embassies in Kabul that they had a sitdown soon after the outfit took control of the country, local media said.
The Taliban have called on countries, especially the US, to resume diplomatic relations with Afghanistan, Tolonews reported.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, “America should have a diplomatic presence in Kabul. We have communication channels with them and we expect them to reopen their embassy in Kabul and we also want to have trade relations with them,” the Afghan-based organisation reported.
Soon after the last US military plane flew out of Afghanistan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that Washington has suspended diplomatic presence in Kabul and transferred “our operations to Doha, Qatar”.
“For the time being, we will use this post in Doha to manage our diplomacy with Afghanistan,” he said.
The Taliban have also sought to reestablish relations and asked nations to invest and help rebuild Afghanistan.
A member of the Taliban’s cultural commission Ahmadullah Wasiq said, “We promise to the world, regional countries and neighbouring countries that Afghanistan’s soil will not be used against them. The world should recognize the Afghan government and cooperate with us on reconstruction and with investments.”
Afghanistan had 36 embassies of various nations in Kabul. And in return, the country had 71 embassies and general consulates in those countries. Many countries suspended their diplomatic presence in Afghanistan due to the recent turmoil.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum led a UAE delegation to the Republic of Iraq to participate in the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership, reports Asian Lite News
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, met today with H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the sisterly State of Qatar, on the sidelines of the “Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership”, held in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Tamim exchanged views on the conference and its expected results in a way that serve the security and stability of brotherly Iraq. They wished success for the conference and progress and prosperity for the Iraqi people.
The parties tackled ways to enhance bilateral relations that serve the process of construction, development and progress, and achieve the common interests of the two fraternal countries.
Among those who attended the meeting were H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to UAE President, Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Chairman of Protocols for the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Salem Issa Qattam, UAE Ambassador to Iraq.
@HHShkMohd
Yesterday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, today led a UAE delegation to the Republic of Iraq to participate in the ‘Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership’.
The Conference discussed a number of security, political and economic dossiers, in addition to emphasising support for the Iraqi government and the fight against terrorism.
In a speech during the opening of the Baghdad Summit for Cooperation and Partnership, Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi said, “Terrorism represents a common threat to all, and Iraq refuses to use its territory as an arena of conflict.
He added that Baghdad Conference embodies Iraq’s vision for cooperation, saying that there will be no foothold for terrorism in Iraq, no return to undemocratic routes and no absurd wars. What unites peoples is more than what separates them.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid was accompanied by a high-profile delegation including H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to UAE President; Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Chairman of Protocols for the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Salem Issa Qattam, UAE Ambassador to Iraq.
Shaikh Mohammad said in a tweet he wished Amirabdollahian success in developing positive relations with neighbouring countries.
Saudi Arabia was represented by its foreign minister, Prince Faisal Bin Farhan, and Iran with its foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian.
Arab solidarity The high-level meeting in Baghdad sent a message of Arab solidarity with Iraq, which has increasingly been pulled into Iran’s orbit in recent years.
“This summit marks the return of Iraq as a pivotal player in the region,’’ said political analyst Ihsan Al Shammari, who heads the Iraqi Political Thinking Center in Baghdad. “Having rival parties be seated at the same table is a significant step in that direction.’’
Iraqi special forces deployed in Baghdad, particularly around the Green Zone, seat of the Iraqi government, where the meeting was held. Participants were expected to discuss a regional water crisis, the war in Yemen and a severe economic and political crisis in Lebanon that has brought the country to the point of collapse.
Lebanon, which has been without a functional government for the past year, and Syria, which has been suspended from the Arab League since 2011, were not represented at the meeting.
Historic moment
Macron, whose country is co-organising the meeting, described yesterdays meeting as “historic,” showcasing Iraq’s return to stability following the ruinous war against the Daesh group, which was defeated in 2017. The meeting was a chance for Iraqi leaders to underscore their recent efforts to portray Iraq as a neutral mediator in the region’s crises and re-engage with the world after decades of conflict.
“Iraq, which for years has been a headline for war and conflicts, is hosting leaders and representatives of the region today to affirm their support for Iraqi sovereignty and prosperity,’’ said President Barham Salih.
Earlier this year, Iraq hosted several rounds of direct talks between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, with mid-level officials discussing issues related to Yemen and Lebanon, according to Iraqi officials.
The talks, while significant, fell short of a breakthrough in relations given the deep strains, historic rivalry and continued sporadic attacks on Saudi oil targets by Iran-backed Houthis from Yemen.
“Qatari diplomats have achieved a certain level of diplomatic practices which had helped certain issues in the Arab World and in Afghanistan too.”said Qamar Agha…reports Amresh Srivastava
Amid the rapidly changing situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power on August 15, experts feel that Qatar can play a vital role in the ongoing crisis and it can also be instrumental in protecting India’s interests in the war-torn nation.
The experts also said that the way the US has deferred its planned exit from Afghanistan with an August 31 deadline, the diplomats of Qatar have been active to persuade the Afghan militia to consider the American forces’ plea who wanted to stay there till the evacuation of its last citizen.
Former diplomat Gautam Mukhopadhya agrees that Qatar has been playing a vital role in resolving the crisis and they have convinced stakeholders for negotiations.
“Qatar is playing an important role in the present crisis in Afghanistan but the results of their efforts are yet to be seen,” he said.
West Asia expert and senior journalist Qamar Agha also said that Qatar has a lot of influence on the Taliban and it also played an important role during the negotiations between the insurgents and Americans, with the then Afghan government without interfering in the internal affairs in the war-ravaged country.
“Qatar has also helped the Palestinians, solving their problems with Israel and tried to mediate with the Hamas in the Palestinian territory. So Qatar has played an important role in negotiating Afghan militia for evacuating the Indians and other countries’ citizens who were working in NATO forces in Afghanistan recently,” Agha said.
He also said that the Qatari diplomats have achieved a certain level of diplomatic practices which had helped certain issues in the Arab World and in Afghanistan too.
“Now, after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, Qatar can really play a very important role. Secondly, India has a very good relation with this country and can sort out many of our problems, if needed,” he added.
Agha also hoped that not only in evacuating the Indians from Afghanistan, Qatar can be helpful in protecting India’s interests too.
It can also counter Pakistan if they try to interfere in Afghanistan and contain any nefarious activities against India.
“India also has good relations with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the two Gulf nations that can also help us protect our interests in the war torn country,” he added.
However, another foreign affairs expert Sushant Sareen does not hope much from Qatar in resolving the Afghan crisis.
“Qatar has been doing this in all hot spots in the world especially in the Middle East and it has outsized its diplomacy by using money with different groups who have issues with the other confronting sections and mediated among them. It’s true that it has taken the position of that what Saudi Arabia or the UAE used to have, but nothing substantial has come up after its diplomatic intervention,” Sareen observed.
“They (Qatar) have a dubious role as they have an US Base in their country but they also host a Taliban office too. They were also funding the Islamic State ultras despite being on the US’ side. It has also good relations with the Taliban and had played a very critical role even in Afghanistan; they have a close connection with Pakistan which hugely depends on its gas requirement. So that also gives Qatar a degree of influence in the whole crisis,” he commented.
Which of the peace process have resulted positive, not even one?
Sareen said: “Yes, it can influence the Taliban leadership in protecting India’s interest in that country, at least they can persuade them to keep on Indian projects going on.”
Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby on Thursday said that the US would move approximately 1,000 military personnel to Qatar in order to hasten the processing of Afghan SIV Visa applicants…reports Asian Lite News.
The government is working to finalise an agreement with Qatar to temporarily house thousands of Afghan refugees who worked with the US military, local media has reported. The situation in Afghanistan is worsening amid the ongoing withdrawal of the US forces from the country. Taliban has seized over half of 34 provincial capitals in the country and it is now closing on Kabul.
A CNN report noted that the number of refugees could go up to 8,000 and if the deal gets signed, the first group of Afghan nationals may soon arrive in Doha. “We are evaluating all available options. We have no announcements to make on third-country relocation sites for Afghan (Special Immigrant Visas) SIV applicants,” a State Department spokesperson told CNN.
Meanwhile, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby on Thursday said that the US would move approximately 1,000 military personnel to Qatar in order to hasten the processing of Afghan SIV Visa applicants. Earlier this month, the Biden administration had announced the expansion of the refugee program for Afghans who worked with the US. The State Department had said that it will expand access to the US refugee program for certain Afghans amid fears of reprisal by the Taliban as the US military withdrawal nears completion.
“This designation expands the opportunity to permanently resettle in the United States to many thousands of Afghans and their immediate family members who may be at risk due to their US affiliation but who are not eligible for an SIV because they did not have qualifying employment, or because they have not met the time-in-service requirement to become eligible,” the State Department had said. “However, in light of increased levels of Taliban violence, the US government is working to provide certain Afghans, including those who worked with the US, the opportunity for refugee resettlement to the US.” (ANI)
Indian External Affairs Minister stated that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan requires that the rights and interests of all sections of society are promoted and protected…reports Asian Lite News
External Affairs Minister.S Jaishankar on Saturday met with Qatar’s Special Envoy for Counter-terrorism and Mediation in Conflict Resolution, Mutlaq bin Majed Al-Qahtani and shared India’s perspective on recent developments in Afghanistan.
“Pleased to receive Qatar Special Envoy Mutlaq bin Majed Al-Qahtani. Shared the Indian perspective on recent developments in Afghanistan. Also the concerns of the region that I heard during recent interactions,” Jaishankar said in a tweet after meeting the Qatari envoy.
Noting that rapid deterioration of the security situation is a serious matter, the Indian External Affairs Minister stated that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan requires that the rights and interests of all sections of society are promoted and protected.
“Rapid deterioration of the security situation is a serious matter. A peaceful and stable Afghanistan requires that the rights and interests of all sections of society are promoted and protected,” Jaishankar said in another tweet.
Afghanistan Pic credit ANI
Also on Saturday, the Qatar Special Envoy for Counter-terrorism, Mediation in Conflict Resolution met with Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla in which the two sides discussed the Doha peace process on Afghanistan and concerns.
“Foreign Secretary @harshvshringla met H.E. Mr. Mutlaq bin Majed Al-Qahtani, Special Envoy of the Foreign Minister of Qatar for Counter-terrorism & Mediation in Conflict Resolution. Discussed Doha peace process on Afghanistan & concerns over the deteriorating security situation there,” a Twitter post of MEA Spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi informed.
Special Envoy of the Foreign Minister of Qatar for Counter-terrorism and Mediation of Conflict Resolution Mutlaq bin Majed Al-Qahtani was on a visit to India from 5-7 August.
Al-Qahtani had met Joint Secretary (PAI) J P Singh and exchanged views on the current situation in Afghanistan and recent developments in the Afghan peace process. He also called on Sanjay Bhattacharya, Secretary (CPV and OIA) and discussed bilateral affairs.
The Taliban is responsible for 2,978 civilian casualties (917 killed, and 2,061 injured) in the first six months of 2021. The war tactics by the Taliban include the use of IEDs, rocket fires, target killing, and ground battles
It should be remembered that Qatar will be hosting a meeting of special envoys from Russia, the US, China and Pakistan on August 11.
This meeting has been called by Russia to push intra-Afghan talks to find a political settlement in Afghanistan at a time when the Taliban have launched an offensive against the government forces in the war-torn country.
Qatar will also be hosting another meeting between the Afghan side and regional and international partners this month.
India backs President Ashraf Ghani-led government and is in talks with other stakeholders in Afghanistan. It has consistently opposed the imposition of any regime by force. (India News Network)
Qatar extended generous help to India when it battled the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic…reports Asian Lite News
On his way to Kuwait, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made a stopover in Doha, the capital city of Qatar and met the Gulf country’s NSA Mohamed Bin Ahmed Al Mesned and thanked him for the support and solidarity in India’s fight against Covid-19 pandemic.
Talking about this development, the EAM tweeted: “A pleasure to meet Qatari NSA Mohamed Bin Ahmed Al Mesned. Appreciate his insights on developments in the region and beyond. Thanked him for his support and solidarity in India’s fight against COVID.”
Qatar emerged as logistic hub for liquid medical oxygen supplies to India.
In the second week of May, the Gulf country had sent consignments of medical supplies including oxygen concentrators, ventilators and thousands of vials of Remdesivir to India as it fought the devastating second wave of the Covid-19
Qatar had supplied 200 oxygen concentrators, 40 ventilators and 4,300 Remdesivir vials to India.
Taking to Twitter, Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi had expressed thanks to Qatar Amir, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani and the government.
“Taking forward our deep-rooted friendship & multi-faceted cooperation. Grateful to H.H. Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani the Amir of The State of Qatar & the government of Qatar for the gift of 200 oxygen concentrators, 40 ventilators & 4300 Remdesivir vials,” Bagchi tweeted..
Earlier, Indian Navy’s INS Kolkata carrying 40 metric tonnes of liquid medical oxygen, 400 oxygen cylinders and 47 oxygen concentrators from Kuwait and Qatar arrived at New Mangalore Port in India. (INN)
