After the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain established full diplomatic relations with Israel. The two countries signed a so-called peace deal with Israel in the presence of President Trump at the White House. The Palestinians who have signed the peace treaty have rejected it.

While the two smaller Arab states have announced their friendship with Israel, another Arab country has sided with the Palestinians. It has publicly stated that it will not normalize relations with Israel without the formation of an independent Palestinian state. This country is Qatar.

At the same time, another historic event is taking place in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The Afghan government is in peace talks with the Taliban, mediated by the country. The goal of that discussion is to establish peace in Afghanistan by determining the country’s political process. Through which the Taliban are going to come to the center of power in Afghanistan. This small Gulf country has rejected a so-called peace talks. On the other hand another peace talks are working to move forward. Today we will discuss two peace talks and various aspects of Qatar’s role.

At first glance, it is not clear why Qatar is taking a different stance on Israel’s peace deal with the UAE and Bahrain. And how much is the risk of the country.

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have signed a so-called peace deal announcing the normalization of relations with Israel. Qatar says normalizing relations with Israel cannot be a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Gulf state has made it very clear that Qatar will not join the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in their efforts to establish relations with Israel.

In an interview with Bloomberg, a spokesman for Qatar’s foreign ministry said: “We do not think that normalization of relations is the key to this crisis and it is not a solution to this conflict. The main issue in this conflict is the suffering of the Palestinians, who have not yet found a country, living under colonial power.

Earlier, Jared Kushner, a senior adviser and son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, visited Qatar. He met with Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Discusses recognizing Israel. The Emir of Qatar said at the meeting that his country wanted a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He added that he was still committed to the Arab peace initiative taken in 2002. The initiative called for a return to normalcy in 1967 in exchange for normalization of relations with Israel. The end of Israeli occupation of the occupied West Bank, Gaza and all areas of East Jerusalem and the establishment of a Palestinian state there are proposed.

Turkey and Iran share a position similar to that of Qatar, a close ally of the United States. There is no doubt that the announcement will further upset the Saudi-led Gulf states against Qatar. In the eyes of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, Qatar is now as hostile as Turkey. On June 5, 2016, these countries suddenly severed diplomatic and trade relations with Qatar and imposed blockade.
These countries later gave Qatar 13 conditions for lifting the blockade. These included the closure of the Al Jazeera channel, the closure of Turkey’s military bases in Qatar, the severance of ties with Iran, and the severance of ties with the Egyptian-based Muslim Brotherhood. But Qatar did not agree to these conditions. On the contrary, Qatar has survived the blockade in cooperation with Turkey and Iran.

Meanwhile, Qatar has increased its rapprochement with Turkey. Turkey’s military presence in the country has increased. The two countries are working together in Libya. The Palestinians in Gaza are going through all kinds of cooperation. Top leaders of Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood are also in Qatar. Qatar also has a role to play in building an alternative platform for Muslim countries. Doha is again maintaining diplomatic relations with Iran. The two countries are extracting oil peacefully without any dispute from an oil field in the sea.

Analysts believe that Qatar’s position on the Palestinian question will further embarrass the Saudi-led Arab states. Will try to put pressure on Qatar in various ways. But it will not be of any benefit. Because there are powerful Qatari lobbyists in Washington. Washington has already announced that the blockade on Qatar is about to end.

It is impossible to sever Qatar’s ties with Turkey. Because Tamim al-Thani has long since made his position clear as a close ally of Erdogan. Turkey thwarted Saudi plans to overthrow him in an operation in Qatar. Turkey then set up a military base at the invitation of Qatar. The reality is that the fate of Erdogan and Tamim is in one thread. So far, Qatar has shown more successful diplomatic skills than any other Arab country. Keeping itself away from Israel’s friendship with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, the small Gulf country has risen to prominence in the Arab world.

Afghan peace talks are underway in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The main agenda of these talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban is to determine the political process in Afghanistan. To put it bluntly, how the Taliban will come to power in Afghanistan is a matter of strategy. At the same time to determine the position of other political parties. The United States had to reach an agreement with the Taliban before the meeting with Afghan government representatives. One of the conditions was the release of Taliban prisoners and the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. The withdrawal of US troops from the country has already begun. The irony of history is that Taliban leaders like Mullah Mohammad Nabi Omari, who was held at Guantanamo Bay for 12 years, are now represented in the peace talks. Who is taking part in talks with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The flow of peace talks and political developments in Afghanistan could have a profound effect on the subcontinent’s regional politics in the future. Pakistan is deeply involved in the Afghan peace talks. Islamabad is the main mediator in US talks with the Taliban. The United States has acknowledged the role and importance of Pakistan. Pakistan was one of three countries recognized by the Taliban after taking power in 1996.

On the other hand, India is strategically involved in the politics of Afghanistan in various ways. The return of the Taliban to Kabul is not good for India. India fears the void that will be created after the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. Besides, Pakistan has a role to play in the rise of the Taliban as a political force. As a result, Pakistan has immense influence over the Taliban.

India believes that bringing the Taliban to power in Afghanistan means increasing Pakistan’s influence in the country. India sees the Taliban’s return to power after the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan as a major security threat. Here is a report on the impact of these peace talks on the geopolitics of the region:

During the talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government, Abdullah Abdullah, the Afghan government’s chief envoy, emphasized the need for a ceasefire. “We all need to be humane and both sides must come forward with a responsibility to stop the loss of life,” he said. There is no winner in this war that has been going on for decades.

Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy leader, said he hoped the agreement would be “patiently pursued”. He also clarified how the Taliban want to see Afghanistan. “We want to see Afghanistan under an independent, united and Islamic system of governance,” Bardar said. Where people of all races will live in a non-discriminatory reality. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also reminded that the talks will be challenging enough.
An Indian representative was present at the peace talks in Afghanistan. Both countries want peace and stability in Afghanistan. It is very clear that Pakistan will be in a favorable position when the Taliban are in power. And India’s fear is here. At first, India was opposed to maintaining relations with the Taliban. But the situation has changed. It wants to open a way to communicate with the Taliban through the United States.

Many Pakistani analysts believe that the Indian intelligence service, in collusion with a section of Afghan intelligence, is supporting anti-Pakistan terrorists, helping separatists in Balochistan. Pakistan wants a change in this situation. They want a government in power in Kabul with which they will be closer than India.

No matter what you say, the prospect of another Taliban government in Afghanistan and the establishment of an Islamic state under their leadership is a nightmare for the Modi government in Delhi. Many Indian analysts believe that the return of the Taliban to power is a threat to India’s security.

The investments that have been made in the country’s economy, security, education, culture to increase its influence in Afghanistan may become insignificant. The reality is that the Taliban will never be interested in India. On the contrary, the persecution of Muslims in Kashmir could lead to a negative perception of India among them.

Another headache for India is the growing Chinese investment and participation in Afghanistan. Taliban leaders have visited Beijing. China has recently invested heavily in Afghanistan’s copper and iron ore mines. There are indications that China will forge closer ties with the Taliban with the help of Pakistan in the future.

At one time India had close ties with Iran. Iran had tacit support for India’s Afghan policy. But the situation has changed. China has established strategic relations with Iran. India had invested in the Iranian port of Chabahar, encircling Afghanistan and Central Asia. Now he is investing in various port projects in China. On the other hand, Pakistan’s relations with Iran are getting closer. India’s influence in Kabul will be further reduced if an understanding is reached between Pakistan, China and Iran over Afghanistan.