After Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, most of diplomatic missions have stopped operating in this country. However, there diplomatic missions continue operating in Kabul despite the fact that their countries do not recognize the Taliban government. Tajikistan is one of such nations.
While the international community has adopted a “wait-and-see” attitude toward the Afghan Taliban, Tajikistan has taken a sharply critical view. Rhetoric between Tajikistan and the Taliban is increasingly bitter, a symptom of a broader problem in their bilateral ties. Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon has condemned the Taliban regime in Kabul for failing to form an inclusive government and for violating human rights in the Panjshir Valley. The Taliban have responded by warning Tajikistan not to interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
An official source within the Tajik Foreign Ministry says the Tajik Embassy in Kabul operates in a “limited format.” The source refused to explain what “limited format of work” means.
Meanwhile, an employee of the Tajik Embassy in Kabul told Asia-Plus by phone that the ambassador and some other employees are in Dushanbe and “only several persons are currently in the Embassy in Kabul.”
“We consider requests, execute them as agreed. Mainly citizens of Tajikistan apply, requesting documents to return home. We deal with these requests and letters that come in, and that's all,” the employee said.
This employee of the Tajik Embassy in Kabul, who wanted to remain unnamed, added that despite the fact they do not collaborate with the Taliban government, they receive appeals from the Taliban representatives and “these appeals ”are forwarded to Dushanbe, where decisions are made.”
It is to be noted that the embassy of the former government of Afghanistan is still operates in Dushanbe. It sometimes holds conferences and meetings with participation of Afghan political and literary figures and Afghans living in Tajikistan.
