Since returning to power, the Taliban has tried to consolidate their power by taking control of foreign embassies and consulates. According to AP News, The Taliban has said that they “no longer recognize Afghanistan’s diplomatic missions set up by the former, Western-backed government and that they will not honor passports, visas and other documents issued by diplomats associated with the previous administration.”
These statements started a chain reaction of embassies closing down. The embassies in the UK and Norway closed. The embassy in London closed “following the dismissal of its staff by the Taliban government.” The UK government did not want to hand the embassy to the Taliban, so closure was the best option, according to officials. Similarly, Norway closed the Afghan embassy “at the host country’s discretion.” Similarly, Norway closed the Afghan embassy on September 12, 2024, after the Taliban withdrew its support. The closure of Afghanistan’s embassies around the world is sending signals to the Taliban that their orders are being followed even with the lack of international recognition. It is a dangerous message given that this offers them too much deference.
Additionally, there are many countries building diplomatic relationships with the Taliban, too. China was the first country to accept an envoy on behalf of Afghanistan on January 30, 2024, the UAE followed in August, 2024, and now there are over 40 embassies and diplomatic relationships that follow orders from the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Over a dozen countries now have diplomats sent from the de-facto government, including Turkey, Russia, Iran and Pakistan. Russia has gone a step further, removing the Taliban from their terrorist organization list. In March 2025, Norway was the latest to welcome Taliban diplomats.
The Taliban also sent a new ambassador to Uzbekistan, a move following a 2.5 billion dollar trade deal between the Taliban and Uzbekistan. The deal covered topics from energy and infrastructure to manufacturing. Referring to the trade deal, the deputy Taliban prime minister Mullah Baradar said, “This landmark signing is a testament to the strong political will and commitment of the leadership in both Afghanistan and Uzbekistan to deepen economic integration in the region. We are confident that these agreements will create new avenues for investment, trade, and job creation, benefiting the people of both our nations.” While this aligns with reports of the Taliban seeking to establish economic ties with neighboring countries, specific details about the deal and its implementation remain limited in publicly available sources.
The Taliban’s remarks on these deals are contradictory to how they treat the Afghan people, especially women and girls, about half the population of the county. If they truly wanted to benefit their population, they would not ban secondary education for women or ban them from going outside without a man and covering their faces.
Large economic trade deals and exchanges of diplomats only suggest a new chapter of normalization of relationships with the Taliban. When the Taliban first took power in the late 1990s and in the first year of its return to power in August 2021, they remained isolated from the rest of the world. International aid and support decreased. However, recent trade and diplomatic changes indicate that countries around the world are engaging with the Taliban, regardless of how the Taliban rules or treats the Afghan people, even if that means violating international laws and standards.
Relationships with the Taliban should not be normalized as long as they continue to violate the fundamental human rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. There cannot be a normalization of a terrorist regime that sets the precedent that women are not humans or deserving of opportunities to be full members of society. The welcoming of diplomatic relationships has now relieved the Taliban of pressure to change their restrictive approach towards Afghan women.
From when the Taliban took power in August of 2021 until now, women’s situation has only worsened. Every year that passes, the number of restrictions on their autonomy that violate their rights only increases. The Taliban’s form of oppressive governance should not be condoned by normalization of diplomatic relationships and rewarded with trade deals. Change must come first and women’s rights must be secured.
Sources: AP News, 8am Media, Reuters, VOA, New York Times, Al-Jazeera
