The fourth year of the Islamic Emirate’s rule was a year between consolidating power internally and seeking legitimacy externally.
The fifth year of the Islamic Emirate’s rule arrives as the caretaker government faced serious challenges in both domestic and foreign policy over the past year.
The fate of the constitution and the formation of a permanent cabinet remain unclear, while efforts for the recognition of this government also continued.
Despite these challenges, the Islamic Emirate managed to establish good relations with some countries in the world. Russia was the first country to officially recognize the caretaker government, a move widely welcomed by current officials.
Dmitry Zhirnov, Russia’s ambassador to Kabul, said: “This decision, which was made in principle by the President of Russia at the suggestion of the Foreign Minister, demonstrates our sincere desire to establish a full partnership with Afghanistan. More than 100 years ago, Russia was the first country to recognize Afghanistan’s independence. All this testifies to our friendly relations with the people of Afghanistan.”
Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, also said: “We call on other countries to fulfill their responsibilities in developing relations with Afghanistan and to cooperate with Afghans in general. They should recognize the system and the government for stability, economic growth, connectivity, and the creation of interactions.”
Over the past four years, officials of the Islamic Emirate have consistently sought to expand diplomatic relations with countries in the region and the world.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that in the past year, Afghanistan’s diplomatic missions in China, the UAE, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Russia, and Pakistan were upgraded to ambassador level, and diplomats were also appointed to Germany, Norway, India, and Indonesia.
The number of active political representations of the Islamic Emirate abroad reached more than 40, and the number of other countries’ representations in Kabul approached 20.
Muttaqi added: “Kazakhstan has promised to accept an ambassador of the Islamic Emirate, who will be introduced in the near future, and last year we appointed diplomats to four new countries.”
Over the past year, Kabul hosted senior officials from the United States, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, the Republic of Tatarstan (Russia), as well as the head of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). At the same time, more than twenty senior officials of the Islamic Emirate, including Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and Amir Khan Muttaqi, traveled to over twenty regional and extra-regional countries.
Muttaqi said: “In the past nearly four years, we have succeeded in ensuring nationwide security, ending the threats of Daesh and other disruptive elements, abolishing the feudal system and drug cultivation, and reducing administrative corruption to zero.”
The Islamic Emirate also took part in several regional meetings, including, for the first time, the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) meeting, the Russia security meeting, the Kazan Forum, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Termez Dialogue.
In June 2024, Kazakhstan became the first country to remove Islamic Emirate officials’ names from its list of terrorist groups. Then, Kyrgyzstan also removed the Islamic Emirate from its list of banned organizations. Subsequently, the Russian Supreme Court announced the suspension of the name “Taliban” from its list of banned organizations.
Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special representative for Afghanistan, said: “This decision is an important step for all state institutions of the Russian Federation. Now, a major legal obstacle to the expansion of political, economic, and other official cooperation with the Afghan government has been removed. We will not stop here, and further measures are on the way.”
Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, said: “The statement issued yesterday by the President of Kazakhstan regarding the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was a just and proper decision, and our request is that other neighboring and regional countries also take similar actions. We want good relations with everyone.”
Over the past year, three American citizens, Ryan Corbett, Phy Day Hall, and George Glezman, were also released from prison by the Islamic Emirate as a “goodwill gesture” toward the United States.
Faye Hall, released American citizen: “Mr. President, I voted for you twice. I’m so glad you’re in the office. It’s the new era and in this situation, I’m glad you’re the president. And thank you for bringing me home. And I’ve never been so proud to be an American citizen.”
The caretaker cabinet continued its work without a final decision on its status, but some changes were made in its composition; among them, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, Deputy Political Prime Minister, was appointed as acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriation.
Zabihullah Mujahid said regarding this: “The reshuffle in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office and the appointment of respected Mawlawi Abdul Kabir as acting Minister of Refugees is a normal process and has been done to improve affairs. This is not something new for Islamic Emirate officials.”
The fourth year of the Islamic Emirate’s rule was a year between consolidating power internally and seeking legitimacy externally.
On one hand, there was official recognition from Russia, upgrading relations with regional countries, and participation in international meetings; on the other, the continued uncertainty over the formation of a permanent cabinet and the fate of the constitution.
All this presents a dual picture of the year; the future, especially regarding the formation of a permanent government and achieving broad international recognition, remains shrouded in uncertainty.