Throughout the year, the Islamic Emirate sought to strengthen its international position by appointing new ambassadors to Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates, reopening embassies, and increasing the number of active diplomatic missions.
On the 19th of Mizan, 1403 (October 10, 2024), Abdul Ghafar Bahar presented his credentials to the Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, while Badruddin Haqqani handed over his credentials to the President of the UAE on the 8th of Qaws, 1403 (November 28, 2024).
Additionally, Italy and Nicaragua introduced their non-resident ambassadors to Afghanistan. Sabrina Ugolini was appointed by Italy, and Michael Campbell was introduced by Nicaragua. Italy sent its representative on the 6th of Aqrab, 1403 (October 27, 2024), and Nicaragua on the 2nd of Saratan, 1403 (June 22, 2024).
Another major development in the foreign policy of the Islamic Emirate was the reopening of the Saudi embassy in Kabul and the appointment of diplomats to countries such as Kazakhstan, India, and Oman. As a result, the number of active political missions of the Islamic Emirate abroad exceeded 40, while the number of foreign diplomatic missions in Kabul reached close to 20.
On the 20th of Dalwa, 1403 (February 8, 2025), Alireza Bikdeli, the acting ambassador of Iran in Kabul, stated: “Despite the strong will of the senior officials of both countries to enhance Iran’s relations with Afghanistan within the framework of good neighborly ties, the coming year will, God willing, be more successful in improving relations and mutual benefits.”
Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan became the second country, after Kazakhstan, to remove the Islamic Emirate from its list of banned entities. This development has also attracted attention in Russia, though no official action has been taken by Moscow so far.
Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special representative for Afghanistan, stated on the 14th of Mizan, 1403 (October 5, 2024): “A fundamental decision on this matter has been made by Russia’s top leadership. However, this process must be carried out within the framework of Russian law. It requires thorough work by lawyers, parliament, and other institutions to ensure the process is completed in the right manner.”
In 1403, officials of the Islamic Emirate also traveled to regional countries. These visits included high-level delegations, such as the Foreign Minister, Minister of Defense, Minister of Interior, and other acting ministers visiting neighboring countries.
On the 26th of Hoot 1403 (March 16, 2025), Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister, stated: “Balanced policy means that we do not fight one country to please another, and we do not oppose one country for the satisfaction of another. We seek normal relations with all countries.”
Afghanistan also hosted several high-profile foreign officials in 1403. Notable visitors to Kabul included the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, the Special Representative of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs of the United Nations, the Secretary of the Russian Security Council, and the Foreign Minister of Iran.
On the 8th of Dalwa, 1403 (January 27, 2025), Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said about his visit to Afghanistan: “We have always been significantly affected by developments in Afghanistan. Therefore, it is natural for us to be sensitive to the fate, developments, and policies of our neighboring country and to be able to manage them.”
Globally, various meetings focused on Afghanistan took place. Key gatherings included the UN Working Group meetings on Afghanistan, meetings of special representatives in the Doha process, and the sixth Moscow Format meeting.
On the 13th of Mizan, 1403 (October 4, 2024), Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated: “Pragmatic dialogue between Moscow and Kabul is essential. We believe that maintaining constructive dialogues with the current Afghan government serves the interests of security, economic development, and national cohesion in Afghanistan.”
Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council held five meetings on Afghanistan, ultimately extending the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for another year.
On the 28th of Hoot 1403 (March 18, 2025), Dorothy Shea, the US representative to the United Nations, said: “We call on UNAMA to strengthen its efforts to promote Afghans in enjoyment of human rights, particularly for women and girls. We support UNAMA’s work to help address the widespread humanitarian crisis and stabilize the economy.”
Finally, the unclear stance of the United States toward Afghanistan’s caretaker government remains a challenge. The newly elected US president has repeatedly criticized the withdrawal process from Afghanistan and the state of military bases. In response, while the Islamic Emirate seeks good relations with the US, it has accused Donald Trump of lacking accurate information about Afghanistan.
Afghanistan Peace Campaign
