Inside the 19th-century courtyard, Afghan government officials would sip lattes from a smart cafe, surrounded by well-tended gardens, and discuss the politics outside, in the real Afghanistan. President Ashraf Ghani, the president of Afghanistan since 2014, was reported to be about to resign. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy leader, arrived at Kabul airport, preparing to pave the way for his group’s formal assumption of power. Yet the disconnect between statements made from Qatar and what is being done by Taliban commanders in Afghanistan is now canyon-sized. Today Taliban officials have already met with diplomats from several other powers.

Source: Indian Express August 15, 2021 17:06 UTC