Qatar’s new ambassador to Kabul, Mirdif Ali Al Qashouti, has presented his credentials to Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

Upon receiving the credentials, Muttaqi described Afghanistan’s ties with Qatar as “historic” and called for expanding trade relations and accelerating the process of sending Afghan workers to Qatar.

Al Qashouti, who previously served as chargé d’affaires at the Qatari embassy in Kabul for three years, was appointed ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary by Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on 21 October.

According to the Taliban statement, the new ambassador also referred to relations between Qatar and the Taliban authorities as historic and pledged to further strengthen bilateral engagement. He said Qatar was continuing its mediation efforts and working to enhance Afghanistan’s interaction with the international community.

Qatar has maintained close ties with the Taliban over the past four years and has frequently attempted to mediate between Kabul and international actors.

Muttaqi’s call to expedite the deployment of Afghan workers to Qatar aligns with a July announcement by the Taliban-run Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, which said Afghan employment agencies had signed agreements with semi-governmental companies in Qatar.

At the time, the ministry said Qatar had offered 700 job opportunities for Afghan workers and that registration had begun. More than four months later, however, there have been no confirmed reports of Afghan workers being sent to Qatar.