KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Two diplomatic missions of Afghanistan in Europe have reacted to the Taliban’s decision to reject their consular services, emphasizing that they will continue providing services to Afghan citizens.
In a statement on Tuesday, July 30, the Embassy of Afghanistan in the United Kingdom criticized the Taliban’s decision and emphasized that its services will continue without disruption.
“The Embassy of Afghanistan in London firmly declares that it will continue all its consular and diplomatic services without any interruption,” the embassy said.
“Our commitment to providing essential services to Afghan citizens residing in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland remains unwavering,” it added.
The Embassy of Afghanistan in the UK also affirmed its commitment to safeguarding the rights and interests of Afghan citizens abroad, pledging to use all available resources to ensure the highest standard of services.
Meanwhile, the Embassy of Afghanistan in Belgium also criticized the Taliban’s decision as “illegitimate” assuring that its services will continue without interruption.
In a social media statement, Nazifullah Salarzai, the Ambassador of Afghanistan to Belgium appointed during the republic government, stated: “The Embassy of Afghanistan in Belgium maintains its credibility and legitimacy for all political activities and services with the host country.”
The Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Tuesday that it will no longer accept or take responsibility for the consular services provided by Afghanistan’s diplomatic missions in several European countries, Canada, and Australia.
The ministry stated that most of the activities of these missions are conducted “arbitrarily” and without coordination with the regime, and that they violate its principles.
The Taliban foreign ministry said that it will no longer accept consular services, including deeds, endorsements, NOCs, passport issuance, passport renewal stickers, and visa stickers, from the specified missions.
Currently, the diplomatic missions in the mentioned countries are still operated by diplomats appointed by the republic government and do not comply with the Taliban’s directives and instructions due to the regime’s lack of legitimacy.
Among Afghanistan’s embassies in Western countries, only the embassies in Spain and the Netherlands have announced that they will engage with the Taliban foreign ministry to provide consular services for Afghan citizens in those countries.