First Taliban ambassador welcomed

The Taliban government’s new ambassador to China has arrived in Beijing – the first time Afghanistan’s rulers have officially sent an ambassador to another country since returning to power more than two years ago.

No country recognises the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, but some, including China, have embassies in Kabul. Many other diplomatic missions were shuttered and their staff evacuated as Taliban fighters bore down on Afghanistan’s capital in August 2021.

China is of particular importance to the Taliban, who are courting foreign investment and regional alliances amid their continued isolation on the international stage because of their restrictions on Afghan women and girls.

The new ambassador, Bilal Karimi, who has no diplomatic experience and is in his late 20s or early 30s, was welcomed in Beijing by China’s special envoy for Afghan affairs, Yue Xiaoyong, according to a Taliban statement.

The Taliban have been trying to gain control of Afghan embassies over the past two years, sometimes publicly rebuking their staff for not cooperating.

In India, Afghanistan’s embassy closed last week, citing a lack of support from New Delhi and the absence of a legitimate government in Kabul.

The Taliban frequently complain about the lack of official recognition. They don’t have Afghanistan’s seat at the United Nations General Assembly, which is still held by officials from the former Western-backed government.