UAE Recognizes Taliban Diplomat as Afghan Ambassador, Second After China

Taliban Plans to Present Credentials to UAE President

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has recognized a diplomat appointed by the Taliban as the Afghan ambassador stationed in the country, following China.

According to major foreign media, the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 21st (local time) that Mawlawi Badreddin Haqqani was appointed as the Afghan ambassador to the UAE, and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs recognized this, stating, "The newly appointed Afghan ambassador plans to officially present credentials to the UAE president soon."

Foreign media analyze that the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has accepted the diplomat sent by the Taliban as the Afghan embassy and reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to helping Afghans through development and reconstruction projects.

Since the Taliban's return to power, the UAE is the second country to accept an ambassador appointed by the Taliban. Although the Taliban reoccupied Afghanistan in August 2021, the international community has not recognized the Taliban as the Afghan government.

However, China effectively recognized the Taliban regime by accepting the credentials of Bilal Karimi, the newly appointed Afghan ambassador to China, in January.

Taliban members patrolling the streets of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan [Image source=Yonhap News]

The UAE has had close ties with the Taliban from the beginning. During the Taliban's first rule (1996?2001), it officially recognized the Taliban government along with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and others.

After the Taliban's return to power, the UAE airport management company GAAC has been involved in ground handling operations at three Afghan airports, including Kabul, supporting reconstruction efforts.