The British Foreign Office announced that Raab meets this Thursday with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, whose Government has close ties with Taliban leaders, in the hope of seeking a solution.

The decision to first travel to Doha as part of the region’s tour reflects the important role played by the Qataris regarding Afghanistan in recent years, which includes hosting the Taliban’s political office since 2013, the communique stated.

According to the text, Raab discusses with the Emirate’s top authorities the possibility that the Islamic extremist group allows landing of commercial or chartered flights at Kabul’s airport and ensuring that British and Afghan citizens eligible for evacuation can cross the border into other neighboring countries.

The Taliban movement, which was never fully defeated during the 20-year US-led foreign occupation, entered Kabul on August 15 without meeting resistance from the armed forces as President Ashraf Ghani fled to the United Arab Emirates.

During his stay in Doha, the British foreign secretary will meet with Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s special representative for Afghan transition, Simon Gass, who is in talks with the Taliban, although London does not yet officially recognize the new Afghan Government.

pgh/iff/rgh/nm