UAE minister meets Taliban in Kabul

Kabul: Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund on Wednesday in Kabul met with Ali Mohammad bin Hammad Al Shamsi, the UAE Minister of Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security and discussed bilateral relations, said Mohammad Naeem, spokesman of the Islamic Emirate political office.

According to Naeem, Al Shamsi said the UAE is ready to invest in Helmand and Kandahar dry ports, and a railway and solar power system in Afghanistan. PM Deputies Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and Abdul Salam Hanafi as well as acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi were also present at the meeting, Naeem said.

Amir Khan Muttaqi met on Tuesday in Kabul with a delegation led by Ali Mohammed bin Hammad Al Shamsi.

The Foreign Ministry said that Muttaqi discussed a range of issues including economic cooperation and bilateral relations with the UAE delegation.

Abdul Qahar Balkhi, Foreign Ministry spokesman, said that during the meeting Muttaqi said the UAE was in a key location and could serve as a gateway for Afghanistan to increase Afghanistan’s trade with the world.

“The UAE is in a key location that could serve as a door for Afghanistan to increase our exports,” Muttaqi said.

This comes as negotiations are ongoing between the Islamic Emirate and Qatar, Turkey and the UAE to run Kabul Airport and four other Afghan airports. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavusoglu said that the United Arab Emirates is interested in participating in the running of Afghanistan’s airports, and the companies from the three countries (Turkey, Qatar, UAE) may reach a joint agreement on managing the airports. —(Agencies)