While Taliban recently declared the consulate services of 14 Afghan embassies as invalid, it has criticized the recent closure of Afghanistan’s embassies, including the one in the United Kingdom, arguing that tying consular services to political issues violates the rights of citizens.
The Taliban-run Foreign Ministry in a statement asserted that it is working through diplomatic channels to ensure consular services are available to Afghans living abroad, despite the lack of formal recognition of the Taliban government.
Last month, the Taliban-run foreign ministry announced that the consular services of 14 embassies and consular of Afghanistan—almost all of them in western countries—are invalid. These diplomatic missions were still being managed by former Afghan diplomats who denied to engage with the Taliban.
Citing the Vienna Convention, the Taliban emphasized that consular services should not be dependent on political recognition. However, the international community has accused the Taliban of breaching numerous international agreements, which Afghanistan had previously signed.
Afghanistan’s embassy in London officially closed on September 27, with the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) denying any involvement in the decision. “The State of Afghanistan decided to close the Afghan Embassy in London and dismiss its staff,” a UK government spokesperson said, rejecting claims that the closure was prompted by the host country.
The UK has not recognized the Taliban since they took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, and its diplomatic mission in Kabul remains closed. Despite the embassy closure, British officials reaffirmed their commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.
