Arab Gulf States Compete for Influence in Taliban-Ruled Afghanistan

DUBAI—America’s Gulf Arab allies are stepping up their involvement in Afghanistan, increasing their diplomatic existence and resuming flights as competition for influence about the new Taliban administration heats up.

Qatar, which housed the Taliban’s political business office for many years and served as the location for the Islamist movement’s peace talks with the U.S., capitalized on that affect to develop into a crucial conduit in between Afghanistan and the West soon after the Taliban seized electric power on Aug. 15.