Afghanistan accepts credentials of ambassador from Uzbekistan

By Bilal Guler

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - The Afghan administration announced that it has officially accepted the credentials of the ambassador of Uzbekistan and that the Afghan ambassador to that country will begin his duties in Tashkent on Sept. 21.

During a press conference in the capital Kabul, Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi addressed recent developments.

Muttaqi said that over the past year, they have engaged in diplomatic discussions with many countries and international institutions including the UN, the European Union and the US and noted that he himself has visited nearly 50 countries.

He said the administration has accepted the credentials of diplomats from 14 countries appointed by their governments.

The new Afghan ambassador will travel to Tashkent on Saturday and will begin his duties, said Muttaqi.

"Some other countries are also preparing to accept our diplomatic missions at the ambassadorial level. I hope to see other ambassadors start their duties this year," he said.

Muttaqi said a total of 39 Afghan embassies and consulates are under the control of their administration.

- Afghan delegation to attend Moscow Format meeting

Muttaqi also noted that their administration has received an official invitation to attend the Moscow Format meeting on Afghanistan in Russia, which is expected to take place within the next two weeks.

"The official invitation has reached us, and our high-level delegation will participate in the meeting," he said.

Since the change in administration on Aug. 15, 2021, only China and the United Arab Emirates have accepted ambassadors appointed by the new Afghan government.

Once the Afghan ambassador begins his duties in Tashkent, Uzbekistan will become the third country to accept a diplomat appointed by the interim Afghan government at the ambassadorial level since the change in administration.

So far, several countries, primarily in the region, have accepted diplomats appointed by the new Afghan administration at the charge d'affaires level.

Additionally, many of Afghanistan's missions abroad are still being managed by diplomats appointed during the republic era.

Some of these missions are cooperating with the new Afghan administration, while others are refusing to do so.

In this context, the Afghan administration has severed ties with 14 Afghan missions predominantly in Western countries that are being managed by republic-era diplomats, announcing that transactions conducted there would not be recognized by the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In addition, according to Afghan media, Uzbekistan's Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, who visited Afghanistan in August, indicated that his country is ready to officially accept the new Afghan ambassador during his discussions there.

*Writing by Alperen Aktas from Istanbul