The leader of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) met with Sirajuddin Haqqani, a high-ranking Taliban official who is wanted by the United States with a bounty of up to $10 million for his involvement in deadly attacks, including one that killed an American citizen.
The meeting, which took place on Tuesday, underscores the international split on how to engage with the Taliban. Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, they have enforced severe restrictions on women's education and public roles. While Western nations refuse to recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan's legitimate government, some Middle Eastern countries and others have begun to establish connections with them.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, welcomed Haqqani at the Qasr Al Shati palace in the UAE capital, as reported by the state-run WAM news agency. The agency released a photo of Sheikh Mohammed shaking hands with Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister and leader of the Haqqani network, known for orchestrating violent attacks against Afghanistan's former government.
WAM reported that their discussions centered on enhancing cooperation between the UAE and Afghanistan, focusing on economic development and reconstruction efforts to promote regional stability.
