Qatar Urges Sustained International Support for Afghanistan at Doha Meeting

Khial Hamidzai

Kabul Tribune

21 October 2026

The Kabul Tribune (KT)— Qatar’s Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad on Tuesday called for sustained international engagement and stronger coordination to address Afghanistan’s humanitarian and economic challenges.

Speaking at a meeting of the Afghanistan Coordination Group in Doha, held Oct. 20-21, Al Misnad said Afghanistan needed clear priorities, practical cooperation and long-term international support to help its people cope with worsening humanitarian needs and economic difficulties.

She thanked Switzerland, the United Nations, the World Bank and participating governments and institutions for their continued commitment to the Afghan people, emphasizing that fragmented international efforts could undermine the effectiveness of assistance.

Al Misnad said Qatar remained committed to dialogue and preventive diplomacy, noting that the country had supported political engagement on Afghanistan since the launch of the Doha peace process in 2013. Qatar has also facilitated communication among Afghan parties, the United Nations and international partners, she said.

She stressed that Afghanistan’s future should be determined through an inclusive political process led by Afghans themselves, with respect for the country’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

At the same time, she said Afghanistan’s stability was closely linked to regional security, economic connectivity and international peace.

Qatar pledges continued humanitarian support

Al Misnad said Qatar had provided and pledged nearly $150 million over the past decade for humanitarian and development projects in Afghanistan, including in health care, education and emergency response.

She warned that humanitarian needs remained severe, while economic fragility, population displacement and the return of Afghans from abroad were placing additional pressure on already strained public services and limited livelihood opportunities.

Funding shortages have added to the challenges facing aid agencies, particularly in essential health care, nutrition, education, water and food security, she said.

Al Misnad called for closer coordination among donors, U.N. agencies, international financial institutions, regional organizations and implementing partners to ensure that assistance was delivered transparently, accountably and in accordance with humanitarian principles.

She reaffirmed that Qatar would continue supporting humanitarian and development initiatives through its national institutions and in cooperation with international partners, with particular attention to vulnerable communities, women and young people.

Doha process and economic cooperation

The Qatari minister said the U.N.-led Doha Process and its working groups offered a platform for improving international coordination and advancing practical cooperation on Afghanistan.

She highlighted counter-narcotics efforts, private-sector development and other areas where international engagement could produce tangible results.

Al Misnad urged participants to maintain momentum in the process and keep Afghanistan high on the international agenda, stressing that technical cooperation should complement, rather than replace, broader political engagement.

She said the meeting should help identify shared priorities, strengthen practical cooperation and renew international commitments to the Afghan people.

The Afghanistan Coordination Group meeting in Doha brought together international partners to discuss assistance and cooperation for Afghanistan amid continuing humanitarian needs and economic pressures.

Qatar Urges Sustained International Support for Afghanistan at Doha Meeting