Tehran, Iran – Despite COVID-19 considerations, Qatar’s ruling emir and Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler hugged as the former arrived in the historic city of Al-Ula on Tuesday for a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit.
Soon after, their two countries, in addition to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait – who together form the GCC – signed a “solidarity and stability” deal at their annual summit.
With Egypt also signing a reconciliation agreement with Qatar, a blockade on the peninsular Arab state lasting three and a half years has ended.
Iran was watching closely. The blockade, after all, was partly imposed because Qatar and Iran were developing closer ties.
The shutting down of Al Jazeera Media Network, as demanded by the four blockading nations in 2017, was not discussed during talks to resolve the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) crisis that pitted Qatar against its Gulf Arab neighbours, Qatar’s foreign minister said.
Following the cutting off of ties in 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain issued a 13-point list of demands to end the blockade, including the closure of Qatar’s Al Jazeera Media Network.
On Tuesday, Gulf leaders signed a “solidarity and stability” agreement towards ending the diplomatic rift with Qatar at a summit in Saudi Arabia.
(Last Updated On: January 3, 2021)
The Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) said at least 130 criminals have been arrested in the past three months in Herat.
The NDS stated that the suspects were apprehended in several operations in connection with cases of abduction, insurgent attacks, armed robberies, and corruption.
The Afghan forces have also seized at least 30 types of weapons and 190 kg of explosives during raids, the spy agency stated.
Addressing a press conference, Herat Governor Abdul Wahid Qatali stated that most of the suspects have been detained in the past week.
“42 suspects were arrested on charges of kidnapping, 17 people on suspicion of terrorist attacks, 16 people on charges of armed robberies, and nine others were arrested on corruption charges,” Qatali said.
(Last Updated On: January 3, 2021)
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Saturday no American soldiers have been killed in almost a year in Afghanistan, following the US-Taliban Doha deal in which the Taliban pledged to avoid attacks against US forces in the country.
Pompeo hailed the deal, which was US President Trump’s initiative, as “incredible progress”.
He stated in a series of tweets: “No U.S. servicemen have been killed in Afghanistan in almost a year, and Afghans are finally discussing peace and reconciliation among themselves. Such incredible progress.”
No U.S. servicemen have been killed in Afghanistan in almost a year, and Afghans are finally discussing peace and reconciliation among themselves. Such incredible progress. #DiplomacyStrong#AmericaFirstpic.twitter.com/zRLuzXIlPp