Afghanistan’s embassy in Oslo, Norway, announced in a statement that it will cease operations on September 12 at the official request of the Norwegian government.
According to the embassy’s statement, a copy of which was obtained by Amu TV, all movable and immovable assets will be handed over to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The statement reads: “All assets, movable and immovable, will be placed in the custody of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs until a legitimate and elected government is formed by the Afghan people.”
The closure follows a decision by the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to declare consular services provided by this and several other Afghan diplomatic missions as invalid.
Earlier, three senior diplomatic sources confirmed to Amu TV that the Taliban had sent letters to 13 countries, including European nations, Canada, and Australia, declaring that consular services offered by embassies operated by diplomats from the former Afghan government, without Taliban engagement, are no longer recognized.
The Afghan Embassy in Norway confirmed the receipt of this letter and cited “legal issues” as the reason for its closure.
Previously, Zalmai Rassoul, Afghanistan’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, also confirmed that the Afghan Embassy in London would close on September 27, 2024, following an official request from the British government.