Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – In a surprising move highlighting the international divide over the Taliban, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Sirajuddin Haqqani, a top Taliban official wanted by the US with a $10 million bounty. The meeting took place on Tuesday at the Qasr Al Shati palace in Abu Dhabi, the state-run WAM news agency reported.
Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister and leader of the notorious Haqqani network, is accused of orchestrating some of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan, including a 2008 bombing that killed an American citizen. Despite his wanted status, the UAE extended a diplomatic hand, reflecting its unique stance in engaging with the Taliban compared to the West, which continues to shun the group.
Discussions focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation, economic development, and regional stability, according to WAM. The Taliban’s statement echoed these points, emphasizing mutual interests but providing little detail. Also present at the meeting was Taliban spy chief Abdul Haq Wasiq, previously held at Guantanamo Bay and released in a prisoner swap.
This engagement comes as nations like China and Qatar have taken steps to interact with the Taliban, while the West remains wary, particularly after the US drone strike in 2022 that killed Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri in a Haqqani-linked safe house in Kabul.
The US State Department has yet to comment on the meeting, which occurred just kilometers from the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi. The UAE, a former host of a Taliban diplomatic mission and a participant in the Western coalition in Afghanistan, seems to be balancing its security ties with the US and its strategic interests in the region. Meanwhile, the international community continues to provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan amidst severe economic and social challenges.
