Closing the Taliban’s Office in Qatar Would Be a Historic Mistake

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In The Media

Closing the Taliban’s Office in Qatar Would Be a Historic Mistake

U.S. and Afgani leaders have agreed to ask Qatar to close the Taliban's political commission office. This would be a mistake that would prevent further negotiations to end the war in Afghanistan. The office has previously proved its usefulness in a prisoner exchange.

By Jarrett Blanc

Published on Oct 3, 2017

Source: Defense One

President Trump and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani agreed last week to ask the government of Qatar to shutter the Afghan Taliban’s political commission office in Doha.

Following through would be a historic mistake. It would foreclose on the possibility of a negotiated settlement, the only realistic and honorable way to end America’s longest war.

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This article was originaly published in Defense One.

About the Author

Jarrett Blanc

Former Senior Fellow, Geoeconomics and Strategy Program

Jarrett Blanc was a senior fellow in the Geoeconomics and Strategy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Recent Work

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Political Reform Foreign Policy Middle East Qatar Gulf

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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