US secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Al Thani on Monday, January 31, 2022, and discussed regional security issues including cooperation on Afghanistan, said Pentagon Press in a statement.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Al Thani at the Pentagon to affirm the strength of the US-Qatar defense partnership and its key role in the US strategic bilateral relationship. Reads the Pentagon statement.

The statement further reads that Austin has reiterated heartfelt gratitude to the Amir of Qatar for his indispensable and ongoing support of the US in Afghanistan.

Both have also discussed security concerns in the regions, de-escalating tensions in the region, and the full scope of threats from Iran.

Qatar has allocated a team of its diplomats in Kabul to carry out consular services of the US embassy in the Afghan capital.

Qatar was also the biggest transit country for the US during the chaotic evacuation of the US from Kabul last year.

Sheikh Tamim bin Al Thani is on his first in-person visit to the US and is supposed to meet with the US president Joe Biden.