ISLAMABAD– The Taliban on Tuesday disavowed many Afghan diplomatic missions abroad, saying they will not accept passports, visas and other documents issued by diplomats associated with Afghanistan’s former Western-backed administration.
It is the last attempt by the Taliban to take the control of diplomatic missions since return to power in 2021. Many of its leaders are under sanctions and no country recognizes them as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan.
The country’s seat at the United Nations is still held by the former government led by Ashraf Ghani.
In a statement posted on social media platform Canada and Norway are no longer accepted and that the ministry “does not assume any responsibility” for those documents.
Affected documents include passports, visa stickers, deeds and endorsements.
The ministry wrote that people in those countries will have to approach embassies and consulates controlled by the Taliban government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
“All Afghan citizens living abroad and foreigners can visit IEA political and consular missions in other countries, in addition to the missions mentioned above, to access consular services,” he said.
In March 2023, the Taliban said they were trying to take over of more Afghan embassies abroad. His chief spokeswoman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the administration had sent diplomats to at least 14 countries.
The Afghan embassies in Spain and the Netherlands highlighted last October that they were working with Taliban authorities in Kabul, after the Taliban suspended consular services at embassies in London and Vienna for their “lack of transparency and cooperation.”
Some countries maintain an active diplomatic mission in Afghanistan, including Pakistan and China.
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