LONDON: The UK government to shut down Afghanistan’s embassy in London following the dismissal of its staff by the Taliban.
The Foreign Office confirmed that the embassy’s closure is a result of the Taliban’s disownment of the diplomatic mission.
Ambassador Zalmai Rassoul announced on social media platform X that the embassy will officially shut its doors on September 27 “at the official request of the host country.”
The UK government did not specify the future arrangements for the embassy’s staff, and there is no information on their next steps. The situation reflects ongoing uncertainty for diplomats who served under Afghanistan’s previous Western-backed administration, which was displaced when the Taliban took control of Kabul in August 2021.
While many embassies in Europe and other regions have continued operations, they have faced criticism from the Taliban for not cooperating with the new regime. Afghanistan has since appointed Taliban-approved diplomats to some countries, including Pakistan and China.
The decision to close the embassy follows the Taliban’s July announcement that it no longer recognizes diplomatic missions established by the former Afghan government.
The Taliban also declared that documents issued by embassies in the UK and 13 other European countries are now invalid.
Despite the Taliban’s rule being unrecognized by the international community and many of its leaders being under sanctions, some countries, such as Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, and China, maintain diplomatic missions in Afghanistan.
The UK and other Western nations are currently navigating how to deliver humanitarian aid to Afghanistan while refraining from recognizing the Taliban government, which has imposed severe restrictions on education, employment, and personal freedoms for women and girls.
