LONDON — Afghanistan’s embassy in the United Kingdom officially closed on Friday, marking the end of its operations after the Taliban severed ties with diplomatic missions established by the previous government in Kabul and dismissed its UK-based staff.
In a statement issued earlier this month, Afghanistan’s envoy to the UK, Zalmai Rassoul, announced that the embassy would close on September 27, 2024, at the request of British authorities.
“The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in London is scheduled to officially close and will cease its operations on September 27, 2024,” Rassoul said in a statement. “This decision has been made based on the requirements of the host country’s authorities.”
However, according to AFP, a spokesperson for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) denied that the closure was driven by the British government. “This decision was not made by the UK government. The State of Afghanistan decided to close the Afghan Embassy in London and dismiss its staff,” the FCDO said, according to Agence France-Presse. The FCDO also affirmed the UK’s continued support for the Afghan people, emphasizing ongoing humanitarian aid to those in need.
As of Friday, a notice posted on the embassy’s gate read, “The embassy of the Republic of Afghanistan is closed,” according to AFP reports.
The UK does not recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan and has no formal diplomatic relations with the regime. However, along with the United States and the European Union, the UK has acknowledged the necessity of “pragmatic engagement” with the Taliban-led administration. The UK’s mission to Afghanistan currently operates out of Doha, Qatar.
The closure of the consular section of the Afghan embassy in London had already taken place on September 20, according to the embassy’s website.
Rassoul, who served under the former Western-backed Afghan government, also reposted a message on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) from the German ambassador to the UK, who expressed appreciation for their years of collaboration. The post condemned the “appalling situation for women and girls under the Taliban.”
Since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, they have enforced a strict interpretation of Islamic law, systematically curtailing women’s rights and removing them from public life. Despite the regime’s return to power, many Afghan embassies abroad continued to operate under diplomats loyal to the previous government.
In July, the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that it would not recognize credentials—including passports and visas—issued by embassies not aligned with its government. This directive affected Afghanistan’s diplomatic missions in countries such as France, Germany, Canada, and Australia.
The Taliban have urged Afghans living abroad to work with embassies under the Taliban. Although the Taliban government remains unrecognized internationally, countries including Pakistan, China, and Russia are currently hosting Afghan embassies that operate under its authority.
According to a report by the BBC, diplomats formerly stationed at the UK embassy have been advised to leave the country or apply for political asylum.
