KABUL (TOLONews): Five years after the Doha Agreement, Anas Haqqani, a senior member of the Islamic Emirate, describes the agreement as the defeat of the United States and the legitimate transfer of power to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
Haqqani says the main goal was to achieve power through understanding; however, the escape of former President Ashraf Ghani changed the course.
He also emphasizes that the United States was compelled to negotiate with the Islamic Emirate, despite previously portraying it in a negative light.
Anas Haqqani said: “You can see the statement of Mujahid Sahib from that time, it was in the morning when our friends in Qatar were working to reach an understanding so that the legitimacy of the government would remain intact and there would be no disruption to state institutions. That is why our leaders made great efforts to enter Kabul through mutual understanding.”
According to this senior official of the caretaker government, the United States had previously expressed readiness for talks several times, but each time withdrew due to policy changes.
He recalled that during the Doha negotiations, the war was at its highest level in 20 years, and the United States had concluded that it must leave Afghanistan — though it did not publicly announce this decision.
Anas Haqqani added: “Our leaders did not even believe it was possible that after signing, the other side might back out, because there was no guarantee. Even the intermediary countries could not provide such a guarantee. But we wanted to take this signature from them before the eyes of the world, and in reality, it was the signature of their defeat. Whatever name they give it now, peace or anything else, it was the signature of their withdrawal.”
Some political analysts shared their views on the significance of the Doha Agreement.
Idris Mohammadi Zazi, a political analyst, said: “The provisions, promises, and commitments made by the United States have still not been upheld by that country. Sanctions, the blacklisting of officials, and other restrictions remain in place, which is against the agreement, and the U.S. should pay attention to this matter.”
The Doha Agreement was signed on February 29, 2020, between Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, representing the Islamic Emirate, and Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation, in Doha.
The agreement stipulated the complete withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan in exchange for security guarantees from the Islamic Emirate, paving the way for intra-Afghan talks and marking the formal end of U.S. military presence.
