6 month agoInteresting Secretary of Defense Mark Esper unscheduled visit to Qatar "US official predicts Qatar will eventually normalize ties with Israel"
Qatar apologizes for taking over the presidency of the current session of the Arab League after Palestine gave up the presidency
The United Nations called on Doha to release Sheikh Talal Al-Thani
6 month agoWhile Taliban hold peace talks with Afghan government in Qatar, top U.S. commander says "violence is too high," blames Taliban
7 month agoUSAF KC135R 63-8884 orbiting over orbiting over the current position of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the Persian Gulf
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Staten Gulf Affairs Timothy Lenderking said Thursday that the US is "going to move ahead, we hope, with designating Qatar a major non-NATO ally." (Via @jmhansler). Qatar would be the 19th major non-NATO ally of the US
US Assistant Secretary of State: Qatar has a history of understanding with Israel
US Assistant Secretary of State: We are in contact with all Gulf parties to resolve the crisis, and we commend the Kuwaiti mediation
"At the moment the U.S. and Afghan governments have no plan B," the [Taliban] official said. "Only the Taliban have a plan A and B. Our plan A is a peaceful political solution, and Plan B, definitely a military takeover
"The current Afghan system is totally corrupt and incapable," began one of the senior members of the Taliban's negotiating team, suggesting that forming a coalition with the "sinking ship" of Ashraf Ghani's government would "drown the Taliban as well
Swiss prosecution: Al-Khulaifi made a deal with Valcke at the Qatari "beIN Sports" headquarters
The Swiss public prosecutor accuses Al-Khulaifi of paying bribes to obtain benefits
US State Department spokeswoman: Gulf unity is very important, and we are pushing and doing what we can to strengthen and support it
The start of the trial of Qatari Nasser Al-Khulaifi in corruption cases in Switzerland
7 month agoTaliban political office spokesperson Mohammad Naeem says: "The contact or technical groups of both sides have not yet met, and when they meet, they will pave the way for a meeting of the negotiating teams
Abdullah Abdullah: Lasting peace in Afghanistan will help return Afghan refugees to their homes
Abdullah Abdullah: We are confident that peace will bring prosperity and stability to Afghanistan
Pompeo says up to Afghans to determine political system during peace talks
Abdullah Abdullah: We will continue our endeavors to achieve lasting peace and unify the Afghan people
Abdullah Abdullah: We want to close the door to war and open the door to peace. We will participate in negotiations with a spirit of sincerity and goodwill
Qatari Foreign Minister: The negotiations aim to overcome the obstacles that prevent the achievement of the desired peace in Afghanistan
Chinese Foreign Minister: The political future of Afghanistan should be comprehensive
Chinese Foreign Minister: A lasting and generous peace is what millions of Afghans are looking forward to
The start of Afghan peace negotiations between the parties to the Afghan conflict in the Qatari capital, Doha, with a large international presence
7 month agoTaliban delegation arrives. It includes Anas Haqqani
7 month agoSecretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed long-awaited 'historic' peace talks between the Afghan government and the insurgent Taliban while on his way to the opening event in Qatar's capital of Doha
Qatar refrains from commenting and markets denunciations of the relationship between Bahrain and Israel
7 month agoUSAF VIP C32-A SAM521 Mike Pompeo en route to Qatar for Taliban talks
This year's U.S.-Qatar Strategic Dialogue is starting on September 14 in Washington, according to Assistant Sec. of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker. @SecPompeo can be expected to attend the Qatar dialogue, after his short trip to Doha for the Afghan peace talks
7 month agoAnnouncement from @statedeptspox that @US4AfghanPeace is heading to Doha "to advance ongoing U.S. efforts to promote the immediate start of intra-Afghan negotiations."
