The acting interior minister of Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government, Sirajuddin Haqqani, met with United Arab Emirates leader Mohammed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi, despite Haqqani having a $10 million FBI bounty on his head. The meeting marked Haqqani’s first official foreign trip, raising questions about how he managed to leave the country despite facing international sanctions and an arrest warrant.
In response to the visit, Afghan aid workers and residents expressed concern about the Taliban leadership being welcomed by other countries, normalizing their regime known for human rights abuses. Despite criticisms, supporters flooded social media with images of Haqqani and Mohammed bin Zayed during their meeting.
Accompanied by the Taliban government’s intelligence chief, Haqqani’s visit was seen as an attempt to weaken the impact of international sanctions and normalize the Islamic Emirate’s leadership on the global stage. The UAE’s reception of Taliban leaders is viewed as an example of realpolitik in the Gulf, aimed at bolstering ties with Afghanistan and countering Qatar’s influence.
Ultimately, the high-profile meeting in Abu Dhabi was seen as a public relations success for the Taliban, highlighting their growing acceptance on the international stage.
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