Afghanistan embassies around the world are struggling to pay staff and bills, stay open
- The Taliban has installed representatives in key embassies, but dozens of missions have refused to serve the new regime
- Across the world, Afghan ambassadors have been forced to dramatically scale down activities, reduce energy bills and food costs
Afghan embassies around the world that have refused to recognise the new Taliban regime are struggling to stay afloat and facing increasing pressure from Kabul to accept loyalist replacements.
None of the country’s 60 or so ambassadors, consuls or heads of diplomatic missions who were appointed by Western-backed former president Ashraf Ghani have agreed to serve the hardline Islamist group since it seized power in August last year.
The Taliban government has yet to be formally recognised by any nation, and the international community is grappling with how to deal with the country’s new rulers while also helping Afghans face an economic and humanitarian crisis.
“We are in a very unfortunate … situation, but we still have to continue to operate in these difficult circumstances,” said Youssof Ghafoorzai, the ambassador to Norway.
“The embassies still have a very important role to play in terms of trying to increase whatever humanitarian support is possible. But also (to help) discussions on the political track … to stabilise the situation.”
Aid and cash reserves, frozen by the United States and the international community after the Taliban seized control, are trickling back into the country, which has long depended almost entirely on donors.
