The Taliban’s announcement on Tuesday to reject decisions made by Afghanistan’s diplomatic missions run by diplomats from the former government in Western countries has sparked significant backlash. At least three embassies responded, condemning the Taliban’s decision and asserting that their operations will continue without interruption.
The Afghan Embassy in Tajikistan issued a statement on Tuesday, urging European countries not to comply with the demands of what it called the “extortionist and anti-national Taliban group.”
In response to the Taliban’s decision to invalidate 14 Afghan embassies in various countries, Zalmai Rassoul, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, emphasized that consular and diplomatic services at the embassy would proceed without disruption. “The Afghan Embassy in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland continues its activities as before,” Rassoul stated, reaffirming their commitment to supporting the rights and interests of the Afghan people.
The Afghan Embassy in Belgium also rejected the Taliban’s announcement, calling it “illegitimate.” Ambassador Nazifullah Salarzai responded to the Taliban’s decision regarding consular services at Afghan embassies managed by diplomats from the previous government, stating that the Taliban’s declaration “lacks legitimacy.”
In a message to Afghan citizens residing in Belgium, Salarzai assured, “Your embassy in Belgium retains its credibility and legitimacy for all political activities and services with the host country.” He emphasized that the embassy’s work would continue as usual.
Meanwhile, the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that consular services provided by Afghanistan’s diplomatic missions in Western countries are not acceptable to them. The ministry’s statement asserted that they bear no responsibility for documents and consular services issued by Afghan diplomatic missions in London, Belgium, Berlin, Bonn, Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy, Greece, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Canada, and Australia.
These diplomatic missions are operated by diplomats from the former government, who have stated that they do not recognize the Taliban’s authority due to the group’s lack of legitimacy.
