With the Afghan Taliban needing weapons and Qatar seeking to bolster its defense cooperation with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA, i.e., the Afghan Taliban), a delegation led by Taliban Defense Minister Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid met with the emir of Qatar, Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on March 7, 2024.[1] Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat, the chief of staff of the Afghan Taliban's Islamic Army, was the other Taliban leader on the two-member delegation visiting Doha to inspect weapons at the Defense Exhibition of Weapons (DEMDEX), Qatar.
According to an official statement issued by Afghan Taliban, the Qatari emir and the Taliban defense minister "discussed the enhancement of relations between the two countries and progress in various fields" while the "emir of Qatar referred to Afghanistan as a friendly and fraternal nation, demonstrating his positive intentions."[2] On his part, Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid "extended his appreciation to Qatar for its hospitality and effective mediation in Afghanistan's liberation and the withdrawal of occupying forces," referring to the Doha Agreement of 2020.[3]
Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid is expected to look for weapons in Qatar and identify the companies from which the IEA will purchase defense equipment. It is expected that a final deal will be signed after Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid, the son of the late founder of Taliban Mullah Mohammed Omar, apprises the top Taliban leadership, especially Taliban Emir Mullah Hibbatullah Akhundzada.
Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid, the Taliban defense minister (left) with the emir of Qatar
On March 5, the Taliban defense minister met with Qatari Defense Minister Dr. Khalid bin Muhammad Al-Attiyah and visited the DEMDEX in Qatar, where European and American companies showcased their newest military equipment, a Twitter account reported, noting: "The Taliban can freely buy weapons."[4]
On March 5, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, tweeted the pictures of Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid and Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat meeting with Dr. Khalid bin Muhammad Al-Attiyah.[5]
Earlier, an official Afghan Taliban website had published a short note in Urdu, saying: "Although the [Taliban] defense ministry has not released much details about the aforementioned two-member defense officials' trip to participate in this defense and security exhibition in Doha, military affairs analysts described this trip as important for the country. In July 2022 too, Defense Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob Mujahid had visited Qatar and had exchanged views with Qatari officials about military uniforms and defense technical equipment."[6]
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Following are photos from the Taliban delegation's visit to Qatar:
Qatari Defense Minister Dr. Khalid bin Muhammad Al-Attiyah, left, welcomes the Afghan Taliban Defense Minister Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid
Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid and Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat inspect military vehicles at DEMDEX.
Mullah Mujahid and Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat meet with Qatari Defense Minister Dr. Khalid bin Muhammad Al-Attiyah (second from right).
Qatari officials brief Taliban Defense Minister Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid at the defense exhibition
Taliban Defense Minister Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid and other Taliban officials in Qatar inspect defense equipment
Qatari officials at the defense exhibition lead Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid and Chief of the Taliban Army Staff Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat
Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid and Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat inspect military equipment
Taliban Defense Minister Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid and his Chief of Army Staff Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat leave for Qatar on March 3, 2024
