Breakthrough expected in Qatar-GCC tensions soon: Sources

DOHA - Qatar-GCC tensions are expected to be resolved in the next 24 hours, sources in Qatar claimed here on Sunday night.

According to sources close to developments, the next 24 hours would be crucial in the negotiations between Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. Reportedly, the Emir of Kuwait, Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, is negotiating a settlement between the three countries and a plane is ready to bring the Emir of Qatar to either UAE or Kuwait where the negotiations will take place. Meanwhile, another plane is ready to bring a senior representative of Saudi govt to the negotiation table.

One major bone of contention between the three countries is the presence of 60 members of Muslim Brotherhood in Qatar. There is a strong possibility that Qatar will agree to deport them, and they would in turn be most likely taken in by Turkey, sources said.

Earlier, Kuwait had said that Qatar is willing to hold a dialogue with Gulf Arab countries that cut ties with it and was ready to listen to their concerns.

"(Kuwait) affirms the readiness of the brothers in Qatar to understand the reality of the qualms and concerns of their brothers and to heed the noble endeavours to enhance security and stability," Kuwait's state-run KUNA news agency quoted Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah as saying on Sunday.

Qatar, a day earlier, in response to allegations of support for Taliban, had said Qatar was hosting the Taliban "by request by the US government" and as part of Qatar's "open-door policy, to facilitate talks, to mediate and to bring peace".

Qatar holds that it wants to become regional hub for peace an negotiations, and hosting members of Taliban and Muslim Brotherhood, it claims, is a part of Qatar's initiatives to bring peace in the Middle East.

On June 5th, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and UAE had cut ties with Qatar and blocked their airspace to the tiny Gulf country ostensibly on allegations of support for terrorism. However, according to experts on the region, the trouble started when Emir of Qatar was quoted on Qatar News Agency giving a statement in favor of negotiations with Iran. Qatar later said that the QNA was hacked and the statement attributed to its Emir was false.