New Delhi: China’s decision to appoint a new ambassador to Afghanistan, Zhao Sheng, Wednesday raised some eyebrows, as it seemed to signal Beijing’s readiness to engage with the Taliban. However, China is not the only country that continues to have a diplomatic presence in Kabul. At least six other countries — Qatar, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan — have also kept their ambassadors in the war-torn nation.
In May, Pakistan, too, appointed a special envoy to Afghanistan, amid strained ties between the two nations.
Saudi Arabia’s envoy, who reportedly “relocated” to Pakistan temporarily earlier this year due to security reasons, plans to return to Kabul soon.
Earlier this week, Zhao was warmly received by Taliban officials and Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi called his appointment “a significant step, carrying a significant message”. China later reportedly clarified that this was a “normal rotation” of ambassadors, but many saw it as a sign of Beijing taking a step towards officially recognising the Taliban.
So far, after the Taliban takeover in August 2021, no country has officially recognised the Taliban, unlike in the late 1990s when Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were the only three to do so.
Some experts, however, argue that Zhao’s appointment does not amount to Beijing’s official recognition of the Taliban.
Amit Ranjan, Research Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) — an autonomous research institute in the National University of Singapore (NUS) — told ThePrint: “After the 2021 Taliban takeover, lots of countries pulled out their ambassadors but China, Pakistan, Iran and Russia retained theirs. If you notice, the Chinese are referring to Zhao Sheng as a ‘new’ ambassador to reiterate that he is simply a replacement for a predecessor whose tenure ended.”
Nearly 20 countries and international organisations have appointed ambassadors, chargé d’affaires or interim ambassadors and special envoys to Afghanistan, to facilitate diplomatic talks with the Taliban. These include the US, UK, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, Kazakhstan and more. India does not have an ambassador in Kabul but has a ‘technical team’ there.
Special envoys or special representatives are temporary diplomats with specific responsibilities on specialised issues. They open diplomatic channels in countries that do not have formal ties with their native countries.
On the contrary, resident ambassadors are accredited diplomats sent as permanent representatives in a foreign country, according to the ministry of external affairs. They live in the host country, head the embassy activities and administration there, promote the government’s policies as well as look after the welfare of nationals from their home country.
International organisations have also stationed diplomats such as Head of the UN Afghanistan Mission (UNAMA) Roza Otunbayeva, and EU Chargée d’Affaires and Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to Afghanistan Raffaella Iodice, among others, in Kabul.
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Diplomats who remain in Kabul
Apart from China, countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan retained their ambassadors in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in August 2021. These were envoys who were appointed under the previous democratic government in Afghanistan and have sometimes been replaced by successors after the end of their tenures.
These include Qatar’s ambassador Saeed Mubarak al Khayarin al Hajri, reportedly appointed in May 2019.
Saudi Arabia’s ambassador Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Khalidi, appointed in 2018, stayed in the war-torn country until February. He and other embassy officials relocated to Pakistan due to threats of attacks in the capital, claimed a Reuters report, but plan to return to Kabul.
Iran’s envoy Bahador Aminian also remained in Kabul until December 2022. He was replaced by Hassan Kazemi Qomi, a member of the Quds Force who previously served as the special envoy of the Iranian President. Qomi was appointed after Aminian reportedly courted controversy for some controversial comments on the Taliban.
Russia’s ambassador to Kabul Dmitry Zhirnov, appointed in 2020, continues to serve in Kabul. In July, he reportedly invited Taliban-appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Muttaqi for the upcoming Moscow Format on Afghanistan.
Several Central Asian countries have also retained their ambassadors, such as Kazakhstan’s Alimkhan Yessengeldiyev, Uzbekistan’s Shadmanov Makhamatovich, and Turkmenistan’s Hoja Ovezov, among others.
Tajikistan’s ambassador Sa’di Sharifi, who was appointed in 2020, is also believed to still be in Kabul. Though Tajikistan is one of Afghanistan’s only neighbours, which has clamoured for an inclusive government given that 46 per cent of its population are Tajiks, relations between Dushanbe and Taliban-controlled Kabul have seen a few tensions.
However, the embassies of both countries continue to operate and are not officially closed. Tajik daily Asia-Plus in December 2022 reported that the ambassador and only a few employees operate in the embassy in Kabul “in a limited format”.
Ranjan explained to ThePrint that many of these countries have strategic and economic interests in Afghanistan, which is also home to extensive copper, lithium and gold deposits.
“The Chinese have a lot of investments in Afghanistan. Perhaps, recent developments, like the announcement of the India-Middle East-Europe corridor, have only raised the stakes for China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for which countries like Afghanistan are key,” he said,
Envoys appointed after Taliban takeover
Many countries such as the US, UK, Germany and others have appointed special envoys, Chargé d’Affaires or interim ambassadors to Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in August 2021, instead of permanent ambassadors. But many of them work out of offices in Doha, Qatar.
Pakistan appointed Asif Ali Khan Durrani as its “special” envoy on Afghanistan in May.
His predecessor, Mohammad Sadiq, resigned after serving for almost three years in Kabul. Pakistani reports suggest Sadiq’s resignation came following “unsuccessful” peace talks between the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Pakistan government.
The TTP is believed to be helped by the Taliban in Kabul, and Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s acting interior minister and head of Haqqani Network — commonly described as a Sunni Islamist militant organisation — is believed to be an intermediary between the TTP and the Pakistan government.
In late August 2021, Ross Wilson, former Chargé d’Affaires for the US Mission in Kabul, became America’s last diplomat to leave Afghanistan. He was replaced by Ian McCary who served from August 2021-August 2022 but operated out of Doha.
In October 2021, Thomas West was appointed as the US “special” representative on Afghanistan but is stationed in Washington DC. And last August, Karen Decker took up the role of Chargé d’Affaires in Doha.
In May 2021, the UK appointed Nigel Casey as the “special” representative for Afghanistan, who served until January this year. In July, Robert Chatterton Dickson became the non-resident chargé d’affaires of the UK Mission to Afghanistan and is currently based in Doha.
Inputs by Pia Krishnankutty
(Edited by Richa Mishra)