Turkey has terminated the mission of Afghan diplomats who were appointed by Afghanistan’s former, pro-Western government, according to the outgoing diplomatic team. The move clears the path for the Taliban to appoint their own envoys. The departing team handed over the embassy in Ankara to the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Thursday. They stated that the decision to end the mission was influenced by pressure from the Taliban on the diplomats and Turkish officials.
There has been no immediate statement from officials in Ankara regarding this development. This termination marks another diplomatic success for the Taliban, who have been taking control of the country’s embassies and consulates overseas since assuming power over three years ago. With the takeover of diplomatic missions in Turkey, the Taliban now control more than 40 such missions.
The departing team mentioned that Turkey's government made the decision to ensure the continued operation of the country's embassy in Kabul, as well as its consulates in Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat. In response, the Taliban-led Foreign Ministry in Kabul stated that changes in diplomatic staff in diplomatic missions are a routine practice. They assured that the Embassy of Afghanistan in Ankara remains operational and serves its citizens and clients as usual.
Last July, the Taliban declared that they no longer recognized diplomatic missions established by the former Western-backed government. Despite this, most countries have not acknowledged the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate rulers. While the Taliban and the West have conflicting views, particularly concerning the restrictions imposed on women and girls, Afghan authorities have fostered relationships with major regional powers such as China, Russia, and wealthy Gulf nations.
