The closure of Afghanistan’s embassies in the UK and Norway has raised significant concerns among citizens of Afghanistan. Some view this as a sign of normalizing the Taliban, warning that any engagement or alignment with the group could have harmful consequences for the global community. Others believe that Afghan refugees in these countries will face serious legal and identity issues, calling for the continuation of these political missions. Simultaneously, concerns have also grown over the potential handover of Afghanistan’s permanent missions at the United Nations in New York and Geneva to the Taliban. However, Afghan ambassadors to these missions told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that there is no immediate cause for concern and that they will continue using these missions as platforms to voice the suffering and oppression faced by the people of Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Meanwhile, some former diplomats have expressed that European countries are leaning towards technical consular cooperation with the Taliban to deport Afghan refugees who have violated the laws of these countries, posing a dangerous situation for Afghan citizens.
The governments of the UK and Norway have ordered the closure of Afghanistan’s embassies in these countries. The Afghan ambassadors in both nations announced in separate statements that the closure of the political missions was carried out at the host countries’ request.
Recently, Zalmai Rassoul, former Afghan ambassador to the UK, tweeted, “The Afghan embassy in the UK is scheduled to officially close on September 27, 2024, following a formal request from the host country. This decision was made per the host country’s discretion.”
Previously, the Afghan embassy in the UK had stated in response to the Taliban’s declaration ending the diplomatic missions of Afghanistan in Western countries, stating that it would continue providing consular and diplomatic services in the UK and Ireland without interruption.
In the latest development, the Afghan embassy in Norway announced in a statement that the embassy was closed at the request of the host country, and all movable and immovable assets were handed over to Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the statement, the mission ceased its operations on September 12, 2024, and all property and assets were placed in the custody of Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs until a legitimate government representing the will of the people of Afghanistan is established.
Youssof Ghafoorzai, former Afghan ambassador to Norway, tweeted that his mission as the representative of the people of Afghanistan and ambassador had come to an end. He noted that after the collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the mission remained committed to human rights, democracy, pluralism, and peace, continuing to operate under difficult circumstances with limited resources. He added that the embassy collaborated with organizations, including the Nobel Peace Center and other institutions, to ensure humanitarian aid distribution to the people of Afghanistan and highlight the efforts of the brave women of Afghanistan.
Ghafoorzai stated, “We emphasized that only the collective will of the people of Afghanistan can guarantee peace, unity, and stability in the country, and the international community must support the people of Afghanistan’s efforts to overcome the crisis in their country.”
Meanwhile, Rina Amiri, the U.S. Special Envoy for Afghan Women, has called on countries to sever their ties with the Taliban. On Tuesday, September 10, she posted on X (formerly Twitter) that until the Taliban change their approach towards women, relations with the group should be halted. She added, “I once again stress against normalizing relations with the Taliban unless deep and meaningful changes in their behavior occur.” Amiri emphasized that respect for all citizens and ending gender-based harassment by the Taliban is essential for a common international goal regarding Afghanistan.
A few days earlier, the U.S. official had also reacted to the Taliban’s “Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice” law, stating that U.S. support for the people of Afghanistan remains steadfast, but Washington’s patience with the group is wearing thin.
Many Afghan citizens have labeled this action by European countries as normalizing global relations with the Taliban. They argue that Afghanistan’s UN missions in New York and Geneva are the last platforms for amplifying the people of Afghanistan’s voice worldwide, and if these missions are handed over to the Taliban, no one will hear the real voice of the people.
However, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, acting head of Afghanistan’s permanent mission to the United Nations, told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that his efforts continue with caution and hope to retain Afghanistan’s seat for another year as the last platform for the people’s voice. He added that no decision has yet been made regarding the closure or handover of the mission to the Taliban, stating, “It’s still early, but for now, everything is fine.”
Faiq mentioned that next week, important meetings, including a United Nations Security Council session on Afghanistan, will take place. He added that two of these sessions have been arranged by Afghanistan’s permanent mission, and details will soon be shared with the media and the people of Afghanistan.
Similarly, Nasir Andisha, Afghanistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that discussions about handing over or closing the mission are not currently underway. He added, “Our work is multilateral and with the United Nations.”
Azimullah Warsaji, former chargé d’affaires of the Afghan embassy in Qatar, told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that several European countries have leaned towards technical cooperation with the Taliban to deport Afghan refugees who have violated their laws, and the Taliban have facilitated this. According to him, Afghanistan’s embassies in Spain, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and the consulate in Munich, Germany, which are in direct contact with the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, cannot provide consular services to all Afghan citizens in Europe. On the other hand, all information on Afghan citizens who sought refuge in Europe in opposition to the Taliban is now accessible to the group, which poses serious problems.
Warsaji emphasized that European countries and host nations are unwilling to change their domestic laws for refugees. Therefore, all Afghan citizens in Europe need consular services such as identity documents, including non-liability certificates, passports, national ID cards, marriage certificates, and other identification documents, which were provided by the missions during the Republic era for the past three years.
The former chargé d’affaires of the Afghan embassy in Doha added that if these missions are closed, European countries’ interactions with Kabul will increase. He explained that the continuation of the previous government’s missions’ activities in coordination with the Taliban and handing over these missions to the Taliban pose security challenges for Afghan migrants. This is because the Taliban would have access to the identity and location of these individuals, making it easier for them to identify their identities and relatives in Afghanistan, potentially leading to actions against them by the Taliban.
The former Afghan diplomat stated that in both scenarios, displaced Afghan citizens will face severe legal and identity issues, worsening their struggles. He explained that no country is willing to address the cases of individuals who entered through different means without legal documents, leading to more problems for refugees and increasing the legal and identity complexities they face.
On Tuesday, July 31, 2024, the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared the consular services of certain Afghan political missions in several European countries invalid. In a statement, the Taliban described the consular services provided by these missions as “unauthorized and in violation of accepted principles.”
The Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced: “To inform all Afghan nationals residing abroad, from the date of this notice, consular services, including documents, certifications, non-liability certificates, passport issuance, passport renewal stickers, and other matters provided by missions in London, Belgium, Berlin, Bonn, Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy, Greece, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Canada, and Australia, are not accepted by the central authorities and relevant departments.”
You can read the Persian version of this daily report here:
