A Chinese ambassador presented his credentials to the Taliban’s chief minister in Kabul on Wednesday, in what was the first time a foreign envoy has been appointed ambassador to Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021.
To date no country has formally recognized the Taliban government and the few diplomatic missions in Kabul have been headed up by Charge de Affairs.
China’s foreign ministry did not immediately comment but the Taliban’s deputy spokesman said in a statement that “Mohammad Hassan Akhund, the Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban), accepted the credentials of Mr Zhao Xing, the new Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan, during a ceremony.”
It was not however immediately clear on Wednesday as to whether this move signaled an indication by Beijing that it was formally recognizing the Taliban government.
