THE HAGUE — Afghanistan’s embassy in the Netherlands has denied reports that it has removed the name and national flag of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan from its official website and social media platforms.
In a statement issued Thursday, the embassy said it “categorically rejects” claims that it has eliminated the title “Islamic Republic of Afghanistan” or the black, red and green national flag from its digital presence.
“The embassy continues to use the official letterhead bearing the title and emblem of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in all formal correspondence,” the statement read, adding that the national flag remains hoisted atop the embassy building in The Hague.
The statement emphasized that “no fundamental changes” have been made to the embassy’s operations or official practices. It attributed the confusion to routine updates in the website’s design and profile visuals, which it said are occasionally modified by the embassy’s technology department.
“The embassy remains committed to serving Afghan citizens and firmly rejects these unfounded rumors,” it said.
The clarification followed public backlash earlier this week, when observers noticed that the title “Islamic Republic of Afghanistan” and the national flag had been removed from the embassy’s online platforms. As of Friday, the emblem of the republic had not yet been restored to the website or official social media accounts, prompting ongoing criticism from some Afghan politicians and social media users.
Some critics have interpreted the visual changes as a signal of growing alignment with the Taliban, though the embassy has denied any such shift in policy or allegiance.
No country, including the Netherlands, has formally recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. Afghan diplomatic missions abroad remain in a state of ambiguity, with many still operating under representatives appointed by the previous republic-era administration.
