DOHA, Qatar and Germany, yesterday, called for stepping up necessary efforts, to achieve national reconciliation and peaceful power transition in Afghanistan.

The two sides issued the call, during a phone talk between Qatari Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, the Emir’s office said.

The Qatari Emir stressed the importance of continuing peace talks and efforts to achieve reconciliation and a peaceful power transition in Afghanistan, it said.

During the call, the two leaders exchanged views on the latest developments in the region and the world, especially the drastic change in the situation in Afghanistan, after Taliban retook control of the country, following the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

Qatar has for years hosted peace negotiations between Taliban and the United States, which led the two sides to reach an agreement in Feb, 2020, on withdrawing foreign troops from Afghanistan.

Since last Sept, Qatar also hosted rounds of negotiations between Taliban and the Afghan government, which have not made any significant progress, due to the differences between the two parties.

Taliban has a political office in Doha, as Qatar hosts several Taliban leaders, including its political chief, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who left for Kandahar yesterday.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK