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Taliban declares western Afghan diplomatic missions invalid


The Taliban announced on Tuesday that it no longer recognised Afghan diplomatic missions in numerous Western countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada.

KABUL: The Taliban announced on Tuesday that it no longer recognised Afghan diplomatic missions in numerous Western countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada.

All passports, visas, and other official documents issued by these embassies are now deemed invalid under the Taliban’s regime.

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In a statement posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that documents from Afghan embassies in London, Berlin, Brussels, Bonn, Geneva, Vienna, Paris, Rome, Athens, Warsaw, Stockholm, Oslo, Ottawa, and Canberra are no longer valid.

The ministry stated that it “bears no responsibility” for these documents and instructed Afghan nationals and foreigners to seek consular services from Taliban-affiliated missions.

The decision marks an escalation in the Taliban’s efforts to control Afghanistan’s diplomatic representation, following their takeover in August 2021. By invalidating documents from embassies aligned with the former Western-backed Afghan government, which continues to hold Afghanistan’s seat at the United Nations, the Taliban seems to be consolidating its authority.

The move frustrated Afghan nationals in affected countries. Many criticised the decision as impractical and burdensome, particularly for those requiring consular services for travel or legal matters.

The Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed Afghan nationals abroad to seek consular services from Taliban-controlled missions, primarily located in Spain and the Netherlands. Earlier, Taliban suspended consular services at embassies in London and Vienna, citing issues with transparency and cooperation.

While the Taliban have engaged diplomatically with countries such as Russia, China, and Pakistan, no nation officially recognises them as Afghanistan’s legitimate government. The United Nations reported that local authorities in Afghanistan forcibly closed a women-led NGO office in May for allowing female employees to work, although the office later reopened under new conditions.

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In response to the Taliban’s move, several embassies have rejected the decision. The Afghan Embassy in Tajikistan labeled the Taliban’s actions as “extortionist” and “anti-national.

Meanwhile, embassies in Belgium and the UK stated they would continue providing services to Afghan citizens despite the Taliban’s decision.

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