7 October 2024

How Soon Will the U.S. Return to Afghanistan?

James Durso

Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban just announced the country will re-open its embassy in Muscat, Oman.

This follows the United Arab Emirates’ acceptance of the credentials of the Afghan ambassador in August. And in January, Chinese leader Xi Jinping personally accepted the credentials of the Afghan ambassador to Beijing. (China’s new ambassador to Afghanistan was officially received in September 2023.)

And in July, the Taliban government withdrew recognition from the embassies established by the ousted Islamic Republic, shuttering outposts in several European countries, and bringing the number of embassies and consulates they control to 39.

The countries bordering Afghanistan have taken a different approach than the U.S. and Europe and have maintained embassies in Kabul and actively engaged the government, though none have officially recognized the new government.

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