Abu Dhabi, 24 August 2024 – The United Arab Emirates has accepted the credentials of a Taliban-appointed diplomat as Afghanistan’s ambassador, marking a significant development in the international stance towards the Taliban administration. A UAE official confirmed the decision on Thursday, making the Gulf state the second country, after China, to formally accept a Taliban envoy at this level.
Although Taliban diplomats have been in control of Afghanistan’s embassy in Abu Dhabi and its consulate in Dubai since last year, this marks the first formal acceptance of their credentials as Afghan diplomats in the UAE. The move has been described by the UAE official as a reaffirmation of the Gulf state’s commitment to building bridges and assisting the Afghan people, including through development and reconstruction efforts.
The official, however, did not clarify whether this acceptance equates to formal recognition of the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. The UAE, along with two other nations, had recognized the Taliban regime during its previous rule from 1996 to 2001. However, since the Taliban’s return to power three years ago, no other government besides China has officially recognized their government.
Despite the lack of formal recognition, Taliban appointees are operating diplomatic missions in several countries, including neighboring Pakistan. The Taliban’s foreign ministry announced on Wednesday that Mawlawi Badreddin Haqqani had been appointed as ambassador and had presented his credentials to the UAE’s foreign ministry’s assistant undersecretary for protocol affairs.
The ministry added that Ambassador Haqqani would formally present his credentials to the Emir of the UAE in an official ceremony.
