UAE Holds Talks With Taliban To Run Kabul Airport: Report

Dubai: The United Arab Emirates have held talks with the Taliban to run Kabul airport, rise against Qatar's rival Gulf in diplomatic upheaval to influence with the new Afghan ruler, according to four sources with knowledge.

UAE officials have held a series of discussions with groups in recent weeks to discuss airport operations that function as mainland air links that are afghanistan which are locked inland to the world, foreign diplomats based in Reuters.

The talks showed how the country strives to affirm their influence in the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan even when the hardline Islamic group most remain international pariah and the government is not officially recognized by any country.

Emiratis are interested in fighting diplomatic guging enjoyed there by Qatar, according to sources who reject the name for the sensitivity of the problem.

Qatar has helped run Hamid Karzai International Airport along with Turkey after playing a major role in an evacuation effort after a chaotic US withdrawal in August, and said they were willing to take over operation.

But the Taliban has not formalized arrangements with Qatar, said four diplomats.

A senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Emirati said the UAE, who previously carried out Kabul Airport during the US Afghan Republic, "remains committed to continuing to help operate" it is to ensure humanitarian access and safe engagement.

Abu Dhabi also helped recent evacuation efforts.

The Taliban and Qatar authorities did not respond to requests for comments.

Two diplomats said the Taliban was also seeking financial assistance from the UAE, even though they added it was unclear whether this was related to the airport discussion.

Emirati Foreign Ministry Officials, Salem Al Zaabi, Director of International Security Cooperation, did not respond to questions about whether UAE considered providing financial assistance to the Taliban.

Airport intelligence.

One of the main problems that still have to be resolved between the Taliban and potential airport operators is who will provide security on the site, said four diplomats. Taliban said they did not want foreign troops in the country after they returned to power after two decades of war.

However, Qatar Special Forces currently provided security in the airport perimeter, the diplomats added, while the Taliban special forces were the area patrolling outside.

So far far countries are reluctant to officially recognize the Taliban government, accusing a group of backwards at the promise to enforce women's and minority rights.

But Qatar officials have urged greater international involvement with the Taliban to prevent poor Afghanistan from falling into the humanitarian crisis. Gulf countries also voiced concerns that US withdrawals would allow Al Qaeda to regain footage in Afghanistan.

While there are few commercial benefits for any operator, the airport will provide a very necessary source of intelligence in the entry and out of the country, according to the four diplomats, which said that since the withdrawal of many countries did not have real time information.

Regional competition.

Qatar and the UAE have a tense relationship for years when they compete for regional influences.

UAE, Saudi Arabia and their allies boycotted Qatar for more than three years, cutting political, trade and transportation bonds, accusing Doha from supporting terrorism - the accusation was rejected. Disputes were completed in January this year.

Qatar has long been the gateway to the Taliban, with Doha held a group political office since 2013 and negotiations with the US at the beginning of 2020 which leads to withdrawal.

Last week, Qatar officials strengthened their position by signing an agreement to represent American diplomatic interests in Afghanistan.

UAE has maintained relations with the Taliban as well, according to two diplomats. They said the country had been home to several group members in recent years, including Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, which they added to Sharjah Emirate with his family of at least 2013. Stanikzai is now Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Taliban government.

Al Zaabi did not respond to questions about UAE's relationship with Stanikzai. The Taliban did not immediately respond to questions about Stanikzai who lived in the UAE.

Taliban said this month that the UAE had reopened the embassy in Kabul. UAE has not commented.