Former Taliban ambassador to Pakistan proposes joint federal government for Gulf states

Abdul Salam Zaeef, former Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, proposed that Gulf countries and other Arab states form a joint federal government to strengthen regional cooperation.

In a statement on X on Tuesday, Zaeef described the current situation as a "golden opportunity" for Gulf countries and the Arab world to create a coalition of their forces and establish a federal government model. He stated that such a structure could integrate armies, intelligence organizations, and other institutions into a common framework.

Zaeef said the aim of the proposal is to enhance coordination among regional countries in response to the presence of U.S. military bases and to advance technological development among them. He provided no further details on how the plan would be implemented.

The proposal follows a joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran, after which Iran conducted retaliatory strikes on U.S. bases in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.