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The operation of Afghanistan's foreign diplomatic missions has been in a transitional phase since the Taliban's August 2021 takeover of the government by force. The takeover was widely condemned by the international community, and no country has recognized the Taliban regime, officially called the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Despite not recognizing the new regime, some countries have handed over control of the Afghan diplomatic missions in their countries by allowing the Taliban to appoint representatives at the chargé d'affaires level. In December 2023, China became the first country to accredit a Taliban-appointed ambassador.
Most embassies set up by the former internationally-recognized regime, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, have continued to operate independently since the 2021 collapse of their government. In the absence of a government-in-exile, some have been coordinating policy with each other directly. The Taliban has been aggressively pursuing control of these missions through both diplomatic efforts and harassment campaigns targeted at currently serving diplomats with the aim of them stepping aside. They have had limited success, and have taken a pragmatic approach wherein they continue to recognize documents issued by all missions, even those not under Taliban control, however the Taliban declared that visas issued by 14 embassies in Europe, Canada and Australia are invalid and will be rejected. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
As of 31 January 2024, [update] China is the only country that has recognized the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan as the legitimate successor to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. [8] One country, China, has accredited a Taliban-appointed ambassador. [9] As of December 2023, [update] Taliban appointees for embassy chargés d'affaires have been accredited by Kazakhstan, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, and Turkmenistan. [4] [5] [10] The Taliban has also been handed control of the embassies in Qatar and Malaysia, the missions in India, and the consulate general in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
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The missions in the U.S. were the first to close in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover, in March 2022. [41]
Afghan passports are international travel documents issued by the General Directorate of Passports to nationals and citizens of Afghanistan. Every person with a valid Afghan identity card (Tazkira) can apply for and receive an Afghan passport, which is renewable every 5–10 years.
The Embassy of Afghanistan in Moscow is the diplomatic mission of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to the Russian Federation. It is located at 42 Povarskaya Street in the Arbat district of Moscow. Following the fall of the country to the Taliban in August 2021, the embassy remained in operation as a representative of the Islamic Republic, until the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accredited Taliban appointee Jamal Nasir Gharwal as charge d'affaires on 9 April 2022.
The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Canada established diplomatic relations in 1968. In 2003, Canada opened its embassy in Kabul and appointed its first resident ambassador. Afghanistan appointed its first resident ambassador to Canada in 2002. In August 2021, Canada closed its embassy in Kabul with the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban 2021 coup, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's embassy in Ottawa continues to be served by diplomats representing the former government; in addition, the Afghan embassy in Canada has been accredited to provide diplomatic services to the United States, following the closure of the country's Washington, D.C. embassy.
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Washington, D.C. was the primary diplomatic mission of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United States. The building is located at 2341 Wyoming Avenue N.W. in Washington, D.C.'s Kalorama neighborhood. The chancery is built in the Colonial Revival style.
The Embassy of Afghanistan in Islamabad is the diplomatic mission of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to Pakistan.
An embassy without a government is a diplomatic mission that represents a deposed government to its host country. Such a mission usually arises from a civil conflict which leads to a regime change from an internationally recognised government to one or more new governments that may or may not be recognised when established for a variety or reasons.
The Taliban has ruled Afghanistan as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan since taking control by force in 2021, overthrowing the internationally recognized Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The takeover was widely criticized by the international community, and no countries have extended de jure diplomatic recognition to the new regime, despite nominally maintaining relations with Afghanistan. The Taliban has campaigned for international recognition since the takeover. Several countries have vowed never to recognize the Islamic Emirate, and others have said they will do so only if human rights in the country are respected. Some countries have accredited Taliban diplomats at the chargé d'affaires level despite not recognizing the Islamic Emirate. In September 2023, the People's Republic of China became the first country to formally name a new ambassador to the country since the takeover, and in January 2024 recognized the Taliban's envoy to China; however, the PRC still does not formally recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. The United Arab Emirates also accepted a Taliban appointed diplomat as Afghanistan's new ambassador in August 2024.
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Tokyo is the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's diplomatic mission to Japan. It is also accredited to the Philippines and Singapore. The embassy is located in Minato-ku, Tokyo. The current Afghan ambassador to Japan is Shaida Mohammad Abdali, who presented his credentials in May 2021.
The Embassy of Turkey in Kabul is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of Turkey to resident in Kabul. Formally, the embassy and its staff are still accredited to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The ambassador meets with the unrecognized Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan officials and Taliban members as practically they are the current government of Afghanistan. In March 2022, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has expressed the intention to internationally recognise the Islamic Emirate. The current situation regarding Turkey recognising the Islamic Emirate is ambiguous.
I am taking leave from 2nd January 2022. Looking to the circumstance and restrictions, it is not very clear when I can return to office. So, I am leaving this hand over note for a smooth transition at the Afghan Embassy in Beijing.
Two other Taliban officials in the foreign affairs and interior ministries confirmed the appointment to Reuters and said similar arrangements had been made in Qatar
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Afghans in the United States will now be referred to the embassy in Canada, which the Canadian government has helped arrange with the U.S. government and leftover Afghan diplomats to remain open, according to several U.S. and former Afghan officials familiar with the matter.
The U.S. is the first country to close its Afghan embassy. Afghan embassies in European countries, Canada, Russia, Australia and several other nations remain open.