Afghanistan’s foreign ministry has announced the appointment of its first accredited ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, marking the UAE as the second country to accept such an envoy after China.
The UAE foreign ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment on this development.
The Taliban government in Afghanistan remains unrecognized officially by other nations, with only Beijing having formally accepted an ambassador’s credentials. The Taliban has, however, appointed envoys as “chargé d’affaires” to various countries, including Pakistan.
According to a statement from Afghanistan’s foreign ministry late Wednesday, Mawlawi Badreddin Haqqani has been designated as the new ambassador. He has presented his credentials to the UAE’s assistant undersecretary for protocol affairs. Haqqani is expected to formally present his credentials to the Emir of the UAE in an official ceremony soon.
The Taliban has economic ties with the UAE, which secured a contract in 2022 to operate Kabul airport. Additionally, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is designated as a “specially designated global terrorist” by the US, met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi this June.
The Taliban’s takeover of Kabul on August 15, 2021, occurred after the Afghan security forces, bolstered by years of Western support, collapsed and US-backed President Ashraf Ghani fled the country.
While China and the UAE have not formally recognized the Taliban administration or confirmed any official shift in diplomatic relations, accepting an ambassador could be seen as a sign of upgraded ties, according to diplomats and international analysts. Many governments, particularly Western nations including the US, have stated that formal recognition of the Taliban is contingent upon improvements in women’s rights and the reopening of educational institutions for girls and women.
The Taliban asserts that it upholds rights according to its interpretation of Islamic law and contends that restrictions on its banking sector and lack of international recognition are impeding its economy.
