Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed says inclusive engagement key to resolving crises from Afghanistan to Gaza
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani speaks at the 23rd edition of the Doha Forum in a session moderated by American journalist Tucker Carlson. Photo:X
DOHA:
In a region grappling with conflicts from Afghanistan to Gaza, Qatar on Sunday argued for inclusive political engagement, even with non-state actors, as the only realistic path to lasting stability.
Speaking at the 23rd edition of the Doha Forum, Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said lasting peace requires direct communication with all parties to a conflict, including armed groups often shunned by Western capitals.
In a session moderated by American journalist Tucker Carlson, Sheikh Mohammed said regional crises, whether in Afghanistan, Palestine or beyond, cannot be resolved by excluding key players on the ground. “You cannot resolve or achieve a solution if no one talks to non-state actors,” he said.
Qatar is one of the mediators trying to seek rapprochement between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime. Sheikh Mohammed stressed that Qatar’s long-standing approach to mediation was shaped by this principle, which has underpinned its involvement in negotiations, from the Afghanistan peace process to repeated ceasefire efforts in Gaza.
He explained that Qatar’s relations with Hamas began more than a decade ago at the request of the United States, which wanted a reliable channel of communication with the Palestinian group. “When they moved their office here in 2012, it was only used for communication and to facilitate ceasefires and aid to Gaza,” he explained.
Likewise, he continued, the Taliban political office in Doha, established in 2013, was also opened at Washington’s request during the group’s war against the United States and the former Afghan government.
Qatar hosted years of Afghan peace talks, which ultimately paved the way for the Doha Accord and the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. These experiences, Sheikh Mohammed argued, demonstrate the need to have a neutral platform for dialogue with actors who “hold real influence on the ground”.
Responding to allegations that Qatari funds intended for humanitarian aid in Gaza were diverted to Hamas, the prime minister was categorical: “All of our aid, our funding and all of our support went to the people of Gaza, and it was a very transparent process that the United States is very aware of.” »
He said Israel itself had facilitated the distribution of funds and humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave. He criticized political actors who he said were distorting Qatar’s role for domestic gain. “Politicians are trying to use this for short-term political gains…to fuel their rhetoric,” he said.
He stressed that Qatar’s mediation has yielded tangible results, including multiple ceasefires, humanitarian pauses, hostage releases and evacuation arrangements.
This Doha Forum brought together more than 5,000 delegates from 162 countries, including presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers, global policy experts and heads of international organizations. The event, one of the most influential political platforms in the Middle East, explored conflict resolution, humanitarian crises, global governance and economic instability.
The prime minister also addressed the Israeli strike on Qatari territory in September, calling it a blatant violation of diplomatic norms and principles of mediation. “The mediator has been bombarded by one of the parties – this is unprecedented,” he said. “It was an unethical decision.”
Sheikh Mohammed revealed that US President Donald Trump reacted with surprise and frustration after learning of Israeli actions. “President Trump has expressed his frustration, his disappointment, because he knows all about the process and how helpful we have been throughout,” he said.
Commenting on the devastation of Gaza following Israel’s two-year military campaign, he reiterated Qatar’s commitment to humanitarian support, but said the burden of reconstruction must fall on the responsible party. “We will do everything to alleviate their suffering,” he said. “But we won’t write a check for what others have destroyed.”
He criticized the international community for what he described as a “double standard”, comparing calls for Russia to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction to the reluctance of many countries to hold Israel responsible for the reconstruction of Gaza.
According to UN estimates, 92% of Gaza’s residential buildings were damaged or destroyed, generating up to 60 million tonnes of rubble. Experts estimate that reconstruction could take decades.
Sheikh Mohammed strongly opposed any attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza. “They have a choice where to go and they don’t want to leave their country,” he said. “I don’t think anyone has the right to deport them or force them to go somewhere else.”
He stressed that Palestinians should not be treated as a people who can be “reshuffled or moved” at the convenience of regional powers.
