ANKARA, Turkey — The Turkish government has assumed control of Afghanistan’s embassy in Ankara, marking a significant shift in diplomatic oversight more than three years after the Taliban’s return to power.
In a statement on Thursday, the embassy said that, despite the Taliban’s repeated efforts to take control of the mission since the fall of the former Afghan government on Aug. 15, 2021, Turkish authorities recently decided to terminate the accreditation of the ambassador and several diplomats appointed under the previous government.
The decision, made under Turkey’s authority and in accordance with the Vienna Conventions, effectively ends the tenure of all diplomats from Afghanistan’s Republican era at the embassy, with their accreditation officially revoked as of Feb. 6, 2025, according to the statement.
Following the collapse of the former Afghan government, several embassies and diplomatic missions—particularly in Western countries—have continued to operate under diplomats appointed before the Taliban’s takeover. However, no country has formally recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate government.
It remains unclear whether Turkish authorities will allow Taliban-appointed envoys to take over the embassy or whether it will remain under the administration of the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
