China Breaks Ground: Appoints First Ambassador to Afghanistan Following Taliban Takeover

On Wednesday, China broke ground as the first nation to appoint a new ambassador to Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover, as their representative presented credentials during a Kabul ceremony.

_{^{Chinese Ambassador with Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi, Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister. (Photo: X)}}

China has become the first country to officially appoint a new ambassador to Afghanistan since the Taliban took control. This move comes as their envoy presented credentials in Kabul. Notably, no foreign government has officially recognized the Taliban regime, and China did not indicate if this appointment implied broader recognition.

China’s foreign ministry described it as a routine ambassador rotation, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining dialogue and cooperation with Afghanistan while stating a clear and consistent policy toward the nation. The Taliban confirmed that Zhao Xing is the first ambassador from any country to assume this role since August 2021 when the Taliban assumed power.

Afghanistan’s acting Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund accepted Zhao Xing’s credentials during a ceremony at the presidential palace, as depicted in photos published by the Taliban administration. While there are other diplomats with ambassadorial titles in Kabul, they assumed their positions before the Taliban takeover.

Other countries, such as Pakistan and the European Union, have appointed senior diplomats under the title ‘charge d’affaires’ without presenting ambassadorial credentials. The Taliban captured Kabul on August 15, 2021, as Afghan security forces collapsed, and President Ashraf Ghani fled with U.S. support ending after 20 years.

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Toshika Chauhan