The US special envoy for Afghanistan Thomas West, in a meeting with with Qatar Foreign Minister Mohammad bin Al-Thani praised Qatar’s efforts in bringing Mark R. Frerichs to safety.

“Great to see MBA_AlThani_ in New York today, together with SE_AfghanWGH. I expressed America’s enormous gratitude for Qatar’s help in bringing Mark Frerichs to safety earlier this week, & we discussed shared interest in Afghan women’s empowerment and economic stabilization,” West tweeted.

This comes as the American citizen Mark Frerichs was released in exchange for Haji Bashir Noorzai, a senior member of the Taliban.

Meanwhile, West discussed the economic stability of Afghans during a meeting with Stefano Sannino, Secretary General of the EU External Action Service.

“Wonderful to see SanninoEU on the margins of UNGA to discuss US-EU efforts to support the Afghan people through economic stabilization, advocacy for respect of their fundamental rights and intra-Afghan dialogue re: the country’s future. No better partner,” West tweeted.