Qatar says nat'l conciliation in Afghanistan is its "safety valve"

DOHA, Sept 13 (KUNA) -- Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Bin Abdurrahman Al-Thani said "national reconciliation" in Afghanistan is a "safety valve" for the country's stability.
This came during a joint press conference here Monday with visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, as both shared similar views on the Afghan people's right of safety and combating terrorism as well.
Qatar has long acted as a mediator on Afghanistan, hosting the Taliban's talks with the United States under former president Donald Trump, and then with the now deposed pro-western Afghan government.
Qatar would "support all efforts that would achieve national reconciliation in Afghanistan," said the Qatari top diplomat. "We believe that national reconciliation is the only safety valve for Afghanistan's stability in the future," he added.
Dozens of French nationals have been evacuated from Afghanistan via Doha on Qatari planes, prompting Le Drian to thank the Qatari government.
He confirmed that there were "very few" French nationals still stranded in Afghanistan, saying that they only numbered in the tens.
Some 2,800 people were evacuated from Afghanistan by France, including 2,600 Afghans, Le Drian said. (end) nnd.aq