Abstract

Having shed their initial reluctance to build more visible ties with the Taliban beyond the circumscribed arenas of conflict resolution or humanitarian aid, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar are seeking to leverage relations with the group to advance their long-term security and geo-economic interests. By contrast, Saudi Arabia, the largest of the Gulf Arab states, is holding back owing to the reputational damage it suffered in the aftermath of 9/11 and from its more recent effort to downplay its legacy as the global protector of Islamist causes. Whereas Riyadh runs the risk of being overtaken by its regional competitors in the race for geo-economic influence in Afghanistan and Central Asia, the UAE and Qatar face the prospect of prematurely engaging the Taliban when its security and governance challenges remain unresolved.

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