Afghanistan’s embassy in Oslo, Norway, is set to close its doors on Thursday, marking the second diplomatic mission to announce closure this week. This follows the UK government’s announcement on Monday that its London embassy would close on September 27th. Both closures are a direct consequence of the Taliban’s declaration that they no longer recognize diplomatic missions established by the previous, Western-backed Afghan government.
The Norwegian embassy’s statement, posted on the social media platform X, highlights the challenges they face in continuing their operations. “The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, like many other political and consular missions of Afghanistan, will continue its activities with the values of human rights, pluralism and peace, despite the many difficulties and limited resources,” the statement reads. The embassy premises will be handed over to Norway’s Foreign Ministry.
The UK government has also stated that they do not recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. This stance further complicates the situation for diplomats who served under the former Afghan government, leaving them in a precarious position. Many embassies in Europe and beyond have continued to operate, but the Taliban in Kabul have accused them of failing to cooperate with the authorities.
Despite the closures, the Taliban have been proactive in establishing their own diplomatic presence, sending ambassadors and diplomats to several countries in the region, including China and the United Arab Emirates. However, they have not yet commented on the closures of the Oslo and London embassies.
The closures of these embassies further highlight the complexities of the current diplomatic landscape in Afghanistan, as the Taliban seeks to re-establish its presence on the world stage while the international community grapples with how to interact with the new government.
