Afghanistan Peace CampaignThis year, the number of diplomatic representations of Afghanistan engaged with the Islamic Emirate reached 38.
Although the Islamic Emirate was not officially recognized by the world in 1402, the caretaker government of Afghanistan expanded its interactions with some countries in the region and beyond.
According to the caretaker government, the number of political representatives of the Islamic Emirate in countries reached 38, and officials of the Islamic Emirate traveled to various countries around the world.
The world has always made the recognition of the Islamic Emirate conditional on: Respect for human rights, especially women’s rights, forming an inclusive government, starting a national dialogue, and counter-terrorism.
“We have not recognized them as a governing power in Afghanistan, they want legitimacy, but they need to meet their commitments. How can you effectively govern and how can you have an effective economy when basically half you workforce–all women–are prohibited from being part of that process? So we are going to keep holding them accountable for their commitments,” said John Kirby, US National Security Council spokesman, on the 12th of Mizan 1402 (October 04, 2023).
In response, the Islamic Emirate said some of the world’s conditions are internal issues of Afghanistan, and it has consistently emphasized that the world should not interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs. The Islamic Emirate has also made demands, including the recognition of the caretaker government, the release of the country’s foreign reserves, the expansion of diplomatic relations, and the lifting of sanctions on more than 15 officials of the Islamic Emirate.
“A country should have its boundaries, a nation, and an organization called the government, so they recognize it. What is considered interference is with ‘inclusivity’ and ‘non-inclusivity’ and the nature of the system,” Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, said on the 16th of Jadi 1402 (January 06, 2024).
Officials of the Islamic Emirate traveled to some countries, including Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan this year to improve relations with regional countries.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, traveled to Pakistan, Iran, Qatar, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Turkey in 1402, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Deputy PM for Economic affairs, went to Iran in the month of Aqrab (October, 2023), and Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid had a trip to Qatar in the month of Hoot (March, 2024).
“Diplomatic ties with numerous nations are very good and expanding day by day. The fact that Allah Almighty gave security to Afghanistan after 45 years means both Afghanistan itself and its neighbors now have security,” Amir Khan Muttaqi said on the 5th of Mizan 1402 (September 27, 2023).
Countries in the region, including China, Russia, Uzbekistan, and others, have always emphasized engagement with the interim government of Afghanistan.
“The regional and international community should keep on urging the US to live up to its commitments for Afghanistan and live up to its responsibility to Afghanistan. As we know, 20 years of America and NATO’s occupation is a major reason now for what we have seen happening … the destruction and suffering of Afghan people. The US and its allies have cut … aid, frozen Afghanistan’s overseas assets and imposed unilateral sanctions, worsening the suffering of Afghan people,” the Chinese special envoy for Afghanistan, Yue Xiaoyong said on 7th of Mizan 1402 (September 29, 2023).
“Pakistan believes that by engaging with the current authorities in Afghanistan, we can help bring peace to this country as well as prosperity and tranquility to the people of Afghanistan,” Asif Ali Durani, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, said on the 7th of Mizan 1402 (September 29, 2023) about his country’s stance towards Afghanistan.
This year, the number of diplomatic representations of Afghanistan engaged with the Islamic Emirate reached 38.
The Afghan embassies in the Netherlands and Spain engaged with the Islamic Emirate in the month of Mizan 1402 (September, 2023), the Afghan embassy in New Delhi announced the permanent cessation of its activities in the month of Aqrab (October, 2023); however, the General Consulate of Afghanistan in Hyderabad, India, announced the resumption of consular services of the Afghan embassy in New Delhi in the next month. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the possibility of the reopening of the Azerbaijan embassy in the country in the month of Hoot (March,2023).
Meanwhile, China introduced Zhao Xing as its new ambassador to Afghanistan in the month of Sonbola 1402 (September, 2023), and Beijing accepted the credentials of Bilal Karimi as the ambassador from Afghanistan.
“Xi Jinping, president of China, while accepting the credentials of Bilal Karimi as ambassador and special representative of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, welcomed him as ambassador in China,” said Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on the 11th of Dalwa 1402 (January 30, 2024) about the acceptance of the Islamic Emirate’s ambassador in Beijing.
This matter led Washington to question the nature of China’s relationship with the Islamic Emirate.
“I think I would let the Chinese government speak to what this means in terms of their relationship and whether they have formally recognized the Taliban or not. I’ve seen some comments from them to the contrary,” Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US Department of State, said on the 11th of Dalwa 1402 (January 31, 2024).
The relationship of the Islamic Emirate with the country’s eastern neighbor deteriorated due to accusations of terrorists using Afghan soil.
Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Pakistan’s minister of defense, said on the 27th of Hoot 1402 (March 18, 2024): “Parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is on the border with Afghanistan — terrorists come to Pakistan from there (Afghanistan). We discussed the issue with the officials of the current government in Afghanistan and we know where the terrorists have shelters,” he said.
Meanwhile, the fate of the constitution and the official cabinet in 1402 remained unclear. The Islamic Emirate, upon returning to power in Afghanistan, suspended the 1382 constitution.
Nonetheless, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, told TOLOnews in the month of Hoot (March, 2024) that efforts to establish a constitution are underway and that the absence of a constitution does not mean that Afghanistan is in a legal vacuum. “We are not in a legal vacuum; Islamic Sharia is a very comprehensive law that specifies the duty of every individual in the government and the system,” he said.
Despite all this, 1402 ended while some issues including introduction of an official cabinet and the issue of a tricolor flag of the country remained unclear and it remains to be seen how these issues will be addressed in the coming year.