Afghan Embassy in London to be closed following diplomats' dismissal

Through a statement sent to Radio Free Europe, this office said the “embassy is closing following the dismissal of its staff from the Taliban”. Britain does not recognise the government led by the Taliban.

But, the Afghan ambassador said the decision was taken “based on requests of the authority of the host state”. Zalmay Rassol wrote on the X that the embassy will close its doors on September 27th “on the basis of the official request of the host state”.

Neither the British government nor the ambassador said what would happen to the Embassy staff, but a source at the Afghan Embassy, who spoke on condition of anonymity with the REL, said the British government has given Embassy staff 90 days to leave the state or apply for political asylum.

This source said the British Foreign Office has also stated that the embassy building will not be given to the Taliban, and that the British government will not allow any political representation of the Taliban or operation of any consulate without knowing the Government founded in Afghanistan.

The government, led by the Taliban, had demanded that the Embassy staff communicate with the Foreign Office, but the staff had refused, and as a result, embassy services were declared invalid by the Taliban.

The news has disturbed Afghans living in Britain, who fear they may face problems if they do not have diplomatic services.

Diplomats serving in the former Afghan government supported by the West had been blocked since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021. Many embassies in Europe and other countries continued their work.

The Taliban administration announced in July that it no longer recognises diplomatic missions set up by the former Western-backed government and documents issued by the embassy in Britain and in 13 other states, mainly Europeans, were invalid.

Most of the Taliban leaders are under sanctions and no state officially recognises them as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan, even though some states have active diplomatic missions in Afghanistan, including Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar and China.

Afghanistan has sent some diplomats, who were approved by the Taliban, to some of these countries, including Pakistan and China.

Britain and other Western states are trying to find ways to provide humanitarian aid to Afghans without knowing the Taliban-led government. The Taliban government has severely restricted the rights of women and girls in education, employment and personal freedom. /rel