ISLAMABAD — Pakistani sources revealed on Tuesday that officials are aware of the Maldives’ decision to recall its ambassador to Pakistan following his unauthorized meeting with a senior diplomat from the Taliban government in Islamabad. This action underscores the Maldives’ disapproval of the Taliban regime, which has been in control since August 2021 when U.S. and NATO forces withdrew. The Taliban has faced significant international condemnation due to a number of human rights abuses, particularly regarding restrictions imposed on Afghan women and girls.

On November 3, the Maldives’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement clarifying that the meeting between Mohamed Thoha, their High Commissioner in Pakistan, and Ahmad Shakib, the chargé d’affaires from Afghanistan, was not officially authorized. The Ministry indicated that appropriate disciplinary measures were taken against Thoha over the incident.

The statement reiterated the Maldives’ stance, explaining that the nation adheres to the guidelines established by the United Nations General Assembly concerning the legitimacy of a government’s representation. It emphasized that the Maldives acknowledges the government representing Afghanistan at the UN as the rightful authority in Kabul.

This development follows a statement from the Afghan embassy in Islamabad indicating that the discussion held between Thoha and Shakib aimed at exploring opportunities for enhanced trade and cooperation between the Maldives and Central Asian countries via Afghanistan. The Afghan envoy expressed gratitude toward Thoha and mentioned that Afghanistan is keen on fostering positive relations with other nations while working to establish itself as a regional connectivity center through an economy-driven approach.

In light of these events, the Maldives high commission in Islamabad has removed Thoha’s official photograph from its website, signifying the diplomatic implications of the unauthorized meeting.