KABUL — The Taliban has called on the United States to hand over control of the Afghan embassy in Washington, D.C., while renewing its demand for official recognition.
Speaking in an interview with the Taliban-controlled state television, the group’s chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the regime maintains periodic contact with Washington through meetings in Doha and other venues, and that the embassy issue has been formally raised with U.S. officials.
“We have requested official recognition from them and have also raised the issue of transferring the Afghan embassy in the United States to us,” he said. “Although we have not received a positive response, the people of Afghanistan want their rights.”
Mujahid also highlighted Russia’s recent decision to formally recognize the Taliban regime, becoming the first UN member state to do so since the group seized Kabul in August 2021.
Earlier in July, Moscow accepted the credentials of Taliban-appointed ambassador Gul Hassan and removed the group from its list of banned terrorist organizations, describing the move as a step toward strengthening security, trade, and energy cooperation.
Mujahid praised Russia for what he described as a “courageous” decision, urging other nations to follow suit.
“Afghanistan has no problems with any country and seeks good relations with all nations,” he said. “Russia understood Afghanistan’s intentions, took the initiative, and took advantage of the opportunity. We call on other countries to take such courageous steps.”
China publicly welcomed Moscow’s recognition, framing it as aligned with its policy of friendship toward Afghanistan, though most other countries have maintained their refusal to grant formal recognition.
The Taliban’s diplomatic outreach has been accompanied by a campaign to take control of Afghan embassies and consulates abroad. In countries such as Russia, China, and the UAE, Taliban-appointed diplomats have assumed control of missions, but in the United States and much of Europe, Afghan diplomatic facilities remain in the hands of envoys appointed by the former Islamic Republic.
In March 2022, the Afghan embassy in Washington was closed due to financial constraints and the absence of recognition, with the U.S. State Department retaining custody of the property and the embassy continuing to display the flag of the previous government.
American officials have repeatedly linked any shift in policy to the Taliban’s record on human rights, particularly their sweeping restrictions on women’s freedoms, including bans on secondary education for girls and most forms of female employment.
Rights groups and UN experts have repeatedly said that the Taliban are institutionalizing gender-based persecution, warning against normalizing relations with the regime.
