KABUL: Afghanistan’s foreign ministry has announced the appointment of its first accredited ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, making the UAE the second country after China to host a Taliban envoy.
No country has yet formally recognised the Taliban government, but only Beijing has formally accepted its ambassador’s credentials.
The Taliban also has ambassadors in the role of “charge d’affaires” to lead missions in several countries, including Pakistan.
The Taliban-run Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Mawlawi Badreddin Haqqani had been nominated as ambassador and had submitted his letters of credentials to the UAE’s Assistant Minister for Protocol at the Foreign Ministry.
“The newly appointed Afghan ambassador will formally present his letters of credentials to the emir of the UAE in an official ceremony,” the ministry said.
The Taliban have economic ties with the UAE, which won a project to operate services at Kabul airport in 2022. Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani also met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi in June.
China and the UAE do not officially recognise the Taliban government and have not seen any official change in relations, but diplomats and international analysts say formally receiving an ambassador is a diplomatic grey area and could lead to stronger ties.
Many governments, particularly in the West, including Washington, say the Taliban’s path to official recognition depends on changes to policies on women’s rights and the reopening of high schools and universities for girls.