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Top US Diplomat, Defense Secretary Discuss Afghanistan in Qatar Visit

VOA News

   WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of State AntonyBlinkenand Defense Secretary
   Lloyd Austin held talks Tuesday in Doha, Qatar,with their Qatari
   counterparts as part of a visit to discuss the effort to evacuate
   Americans and Afghans from Afghanistan and other regional issues.

   "Honored to meet with Qatari Amir Al Thani today in Doha with @SecDef
   Austin,"Blinkentweeted late Monday afteran initialround of meetings
   with Foreign Minister Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani."I expressed
   our gratitude for Qatar's remarkable support of the safe transit of
   hundreds of U.S. citizens and tens of thousands of Afghans and other
   evacuees from Afghanistan."
   US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, fourth left and Secretary of
   Defense Lloyd Austin, fifth left, takes part in a meeting with Qatari
   counterparts in Doha, Qatar, Sept. 7, 2021.

   In addition to their meetings Tuesday with Al Thani and Qatari Defense
   Minister Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah,Blinkenand Austin are also
   touring an in-processing center in Doha and visiting with U.S. military
   and diplomatic personnel.

   A State Department official said Monday four more Americans had safely
   left Afghanistan using an overland route and were greeted by embassy
   personnel after crossing the border.

   The official did not say which country the Americans crossed
   into.Afghanistan is bordered by Iran, Turkmenistan,
   Uzbekistan,Tajikistanand Pakistan.

   Even as the Taliban insurgents who now control Afghanistan have blocked
   air flights carrying more Americans and Afghans who want to leave the
   country, the State Department official said the Taliban did not impede
   passage of the four individuals and were aware of their departure.

   After the visit to Qatar,Blinkenis set to travel on to Germany to meet
   with U.S. troops and Afghan refugees at Ramstein U.S. Air Force Base.

   He is also scheduled to lead a virtual 20-nation ministerial meeting on
   Afghanistan on Wednesday alongside German Foreign Minister Heiko
   Maas.Blinkensaid the 20countries "all have a stake in helping to
   relocate and resettle Afghans and in holding the Taliban to their
   commitments."

   Austin's tour of U.S. allies in the Middle East also includes stops in
   Bahrain,Kuwaitand Saudi Arabia.

   Cindy Saine contributed to this report.

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