UAE, Qatar engage in tussle over handling of Kabul airport in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan

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The United Arab Emirates have held talks with the Taliban to run the Kabul Airport, against the Qatar Bay rival in a diplomatic struggle for influence with the new Afghan rulers, according to four sources with knowledge of the problem

UAE officials have held a series of discussions with groups in recent weeks to discuss airport operations that function as the main air liaison of Afghanistan which is locked up in the world, foreign diplomats based in the Gulf region told Reuters.

Talks show how countries try to confirm their influence in Afghanistan which is controlled by the Taliban even when the hardline Islamic groups mostly remain international paria and their government which is not officially recognized by any country.

Qatar has helped run the Hamid Karzai International Airport together with Turkey after playing a major role in the evacuation effort after the chaotic US withdrawal in August, and said they were willing to take over operations.

A senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Emirati said the UAE, who previously ran the Kabul Airport during the Afghan Republic, which was supported by the U.S., “remained committed to continue to help in operating” it was to ensure access to humanity and safe trips.

One of the main problems that still need to be resolved between the Taliban and the potential airport operator is who will provide security at the location, said the four diplomats. The Taliban said they did not want foreign troops in the country after returning to power after two decades of war.

However, Qatar’s special forces currently provide security in the airport perimeter, the diplomats added, while the Taliban special forces are patrolling outside.

So far the countries are reluctant to officially recognize the Taliban government, accuse the group withdrawing of promises to uphold women’s rights and minorities.

But Qatar officials have urged greater international involvement with the Taliban to prevent poor Afghanistan from falling into a humanitarian crisis. Gulf countries also voiced concerns that US withdrawal would allow Al Qaeda to regain foothold in Afghanistan.

Although there is a little commercial benefit for any operator, the airport will provide a source of intelligence that is needed about the movement of entering and leaving the country, according to four diplomats, which says that since withdrawal, many countries do not have real time information