Taliban sends envoy to Islamabad to supervise Afghan embassy

The Taliban set-up has sent an envoy to Islamabad to oversee the Afghan embassy in the quest for world recognition, according to news agency Reuters. However, the official will not have the formal title of ambassador. 

Mohammad Shokaib has reportedly been moved to Pakistan’s capital as the first secretary or charge d’affaires at the embassy, as the Sunni Pashtun organisation begins to take control of Afghanistan’s network of foreign delegations.

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Since the Ashraf Ghani-led government withdrew its envoy, Najibullah Alikhil, over the alleged kidnapping and assault of his daughter, the office of ambassador has remained vacant.. The Afghan foreign ministry under the previous government had strongly condemned the “heinous act” and expressed its “deep concern over the safety and security of diplomats, their families, and staff members of the Afghan political and consular missions in Pakistan”.

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Although Pakistan has not officially recognised the new Taliban administration, which came to power after years of insurgency, Islamabad has been involved in the country’s government formation. Pakistan’s influence in the Taliban set-up to sideline Mullah Baradar and strengthen the Haqqani Network, a US-designated terrorist organisation, was previously reported by Hindustan Times.

According to Pakistan’s foreign ministry, the Taliban’s recent appointment was primarily to ensure consular functions.

“There are millions of Afghan refugees in Pakistan and there are visa issues as well,” Reuters quoted the ministry spokesperson as saying.

Two Afghan officials have also been appointed to run the consulates in Quetta and Peshawar, in addition to Shokaib. The meetings are significant because both Pakistani cities are near to Afghanistan’s two major border crossings.