Kabul - information office -30 January 2019

HE President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani met on Wednesday with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs' Special Envoy for Counterterrorism and Mediation in Disputes' Settlements Ambassador Dr. Mutlaq bin Majed Al Qahtani, who is currently visiting Afghanistan.

During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them.

They also discussed means to achieve stability and peace in Afghanistan, as well as the Qatari mediation efforts and good offices in bringing together the views of the parties concerned in this conflict.

HE the Minister of Foreign Affairs' Special Envoy briefed the Afghan President on the US talks with Taliban, which took place in a constructive and positive atmosphere, reflecting the seriousness of both sides in achieving progress in the path of reconciliation and achieving peace in Afghanistan.

For his part, the Afghan President hailed the efforts exerted by the State of Qatar in mediating between the Afghan parties and its efforts to achieve peace in Afghanistan.

In the same context, HE the Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs met separately with HE Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, HE Head of National Directorate of Security (NDS) Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai and HE Chairman of the National Peace Council of Afghanistan Abdulkarim Khalili.

The meetings focused on a number of topics, notably the distinguished role played by the State of Qatar in the mediation and its position on the process of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan, the rejection by all parties of a military solution to the peace process in Afghanistan, regional and international attitudes towards Afghanistan and the importance of regional and international cooperation in this regard.