The Taliban on Tuesday (July 30) rejected many Afghan diplomatic missions abroad, saying it would not recognize passports, visas and other documents issued by diplomats linked to Afghanistan's old, Western-backed government.
It is the Taliban's latest attempt to seize control of diplomatic missions since returning to power in 2021. Many Taliban leaders are under sanctions, and no country recognizes them as Afghanistan's legitimate rulers.
The country’s UN seat was held by the previous government led by Ashraf Ghani, but the Taliban want it. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the Foreign Ministry said documents issued by diplomatic offices in London, Berlin, Belgium, Bonn, Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy, Greece, Poland, Australia, Sweden, Canada and Norway were no longer accepted and the ministry was “not responsible” for them.
The affected documents include passports, visa stickers, certificates and other sponsorship letters (endorsements). The ministry wrote that people in these countries should contact the embassies and consulates controlled by the government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Afghanistan. (ps/you)
