Taliban Appoints New Charge d'Affaires at Afghan Embassy in Berlin Without German Approval

Reuters, citing German broadcaster ARD, reported that the Taliban appointed a new charge d'affaires at the Afghan embassy in Berlin without informing or obtaining approval from the German government.

The individual had previously entered Germany as a low-level consular official involved in cooperation on deportations of rejected Afghan asylum seekers. Germany confirmed his consular role but was unaware of his promotion to charge d'affaires. ARD, referencing confidential documents, said the appointee has introduced himself as charge d'affaires in official correspondence with the Taliban Foreign Ministry in Kabul and has taken over leadership of the embassy.

A spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry stated that Berlin has received no information about changes in the leadership of Afghan diplomatic representations in the country.

The previous head of the embassy, appointed during Afghanistan's prior government, was stripped of his powers in January and demoted to a ceremonial role. Diplomatic sources cited by ARD said the Taliban considered him untrustworthy.

Another diplomat who entered Germany at the same time now handles responsibilities at the Afghan consulate in Bonn, though Germany does not recognize this position.

These actions contravene the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which requires host country approval for appointments of ambassadors or heads of diplomatic missions. Germany does not recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan's legitimate government, except for Russia, and prefers diplomatic representations to operate under officials from the previous government.