Dominic Raab in Qatar for security talks

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is meeting the Amir of Qatar and the Qatari Foreign Minister in Doha to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, with safe passage for foreign nationals and Afghans across land borders top of the agenda.

The Foreign Office says that the decision to visit Doha first on a trip to the region reflects the high profile role the Qataris have played with regard to Afghanistan in recent years, including hosting the Taliban political office in Doha since 2013.

The UK is keen to work with Qatar and other international partners to help ensure that the Taliban government will bear down on the threat from ISKP and Al-Qaeda and honouring their commitment in the Doha agreement to prevent Afghanistan soil being used to threaten the security of other countries; facilitating humanitarian access; and protecting human rights, especially those of women and girls.

The British Embassy to Afghanistan, which has been temporarily relocated to Qatar until it can be re-established in Afghanistan, is now up and running in Doha.