The Taliban-run Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday announced that its appointed envoy has officially begun his duties in Uzbekistan, despite the fact that no country, including Uzbekistan, has yet formally recognized the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan.
In a statement, the ministry confirmed that Abdul Ghaffar Bahar, the Taliban’s “ambassador” to Uzbekistan, arrived in Tashkent on Monday and has already held introductory meetings with several diplomats.
While Uzbekistan has maintained close relations with the Taliban over the past three years, it has not granted official recognition to the group, aligning with the stance of other countries in the region.
Nations such as Russia, China, Iran, and Uzbekistan have engaged diplomatically with the Taliban, but none have formally acknowledged its rule.
Zia Ahmad Takal, deputy spokesperson for the Taliban’s foreign ministry, noted that Bahar’s diplomatic engagements mark the start of his official duties in Tashkent.
Previously, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s foreign minister, stated during the annual report briefing of the foreign ministry that the group currently oversees 39 embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions worldwide. These outposts are either under Taliban control or managed by diplomats appointed by the group.
Doha process faces collapse, says UN official
Meanwhile, U.N. Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo warned on Monday that the Doha process, aimed at facilitating international engagement with the Taliban, is at risk of failing. Speaking at a session during the 79th U.N. General Assembly, DiCarlo expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation.
While she did not specify the exact reasons for the breakdown, DiCarlo sharply criticized the Taliban’s recently codified “Morality Law,” formally known as the Law on the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, which has drawn widespread condemnation from the international community.
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, no country, including those with close ties to the Taliban, has moved to recognize its authority in Afghanistan, leaving the group in a precarious position on the global stage.
