ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The Turkish government has officially terminated the mission of Afghan diplomats appointed by the former, pro-Western government of Afghanistan, according to the outgoing diplomatic team. This action facilitates the Taliban's ability to designate their own diplomatic representatives in Turkey. The departing team announced on X (formerly Twitter) that they handed over the Afghan embassy in Ankara to the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Thursday.
The statement issued by the departing Afghan diplomats characterized Turkey's decision to end their diplomatic mission as the result of significant pressure exerted by the Taliban on both the Afghan diplomats and Turkish officials. This marked a pivotal moment for the Taliban, who have been actively working to assert control over Afghanistan’s diplomatic missions abroad for over three years following their takeover of the country.
Despite there being no immediate response from officials in Ankara, the departure of the Afghan diplomatic staff marks another significant diplomatic achievement for the Taliban. With this development, the total number of embassies and consulates that the Taliban have assumed control of worldwide has surpassed 40, emphasizing their growing influence on the international stage.
The departing diplomatic team's statement emphasized, "Due to the failed attempts of the Taliban to gain control of the embassy and the continuous pressure on the diplomats and employees of this embassy, as well as their pressure on the Turkish government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey has recently decided to terminate the mission of the ambassador and diplomats of this embassy." They noted that this move was intended to ensure that Turkey's diplomatic presence in Kabul, as well as its consulates in Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat, could remain operational.
In response, officials from the Taliban-led Foreign Ministry in Kabul indicated that "a change in the diplomatic staff in the diplomatic missions of countries is a normal practice." Zakir Jalali, a senior official in the ministry, claimed in a statement that "the Embassy of Afghanistan in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, continues its activities as usual and is at the service of its citizens and other clients."
Last July, the Taliban announced that they no longer recognized diplomatic missions set up by the previous Western-backed administration, and most countries still do not acknowledge the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan. This lack of recognition persists despite the Taliban’s efforts to engage with several major regional powers, including China, Russia, and wealthier Gulf nations, amid sustained tensions with the West primarily due to the regime's stark restrictions on women's rights and freedoms.
The recent developments further illustrate the complex interplay of diplomatic relations following the Taliban's resurgence in Afghanistan and highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the international community in addressing the realities on the ground. The situation remains fluid, with the potential for further developments as the Taliban consolidates its control over diplomatic missions worldwide.
