ANKARA, Turkey — The Turkish government has concluded the diplomatic mission of representatives appointed by Afghanistan’s former pro-Western administration, according to the departing diplomatic team. This decision clears the way for the Taliban to designate their own diplomats.
the outgoing team announced on X that they formally handed the embassy in Ankara over to Turkey’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday. Their statement, unusually assertive in tone, indicated that the Turkish government’s decision was influenced by persistent pressure from the Taliban directed at the diplomats and Turkish officials.
According to a Turkish official, who requested anonymity, the interim government of Afghanistan had earlier proclaimed that the term of the ambassador and some diplomats would conclude in November 2024. Regardless, duties have ceased, but the embassy will continue to remain operational.
“We are engaging in dialogue with the interim administration of Afghanistan to help mitigate the difficulties faced by the Afghan populace,” the official remarked.
This step represents another diplomatic achievement for the Taliban, which has sought to assert control over Afghanistan’s foreign missions following its return to power over three years ago. With the recent developments in Turkey, the number of missions under Taliban influence exceeds 40.
The departing diplomatic team stated that the Turkish government made this choice to maintain its embassy operations in Kabul and consulates in Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat, partly due to the Taliban’s ongoing attempts to assert control over the embassy and the mounting pressure on its staff.
In a statement from Kabul, a spokesperson for the Taliban-led Foreign Ministry remarked that “changing diplomatic personnel is a standard procedure in international relations.”
Zakir Jalali, a senior official within the ministry, confirmed that the Afghan Embassy in Ankara remains functional and committed to serving its citizens and other stakeholders.
The Taliban had declared last July that it would no longer acknowledge diplomatic missions established by the former government, which had been supported by Western powers. To this day, most nations have not yet recognized the Taliban as the legitimate governing authority in Afghanistan.
Despite the ongoing tensions between the Taliban and Western nations, primarily due to significant restrictions placed on the rights of women and girls, Afghanistan’s authorities have been able to forge connections with significant regional powers such as China, Russia, and affluent Gulf states.
