Taliban Appoints First Accredited Ambassador to UAE, Strengthening Diplomatic Ties

Afghanistan’s Taliban-led foreign ministry announced that it has appointed its first accredited ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking the second country after China to accept an envoy at this level.

The UAE’s foreign ministry has not yet commented on the appointment.

Although the Taliban government remains unrecognized by any foreign capital, Beijing has officially accepted a Taliban ambassador. The group has also sent envoys to several countries, including Pakistan, as “charge d’affaires.”

In a statement released late Wednesday, the Taliban foreign ministry confirmed that Mawlawi Badreddin Haqqani has been nominated as ambassador and has presented his credentials to the UAE’s assistant undersecretary for protocol affairs.

The ministry added that Haqqani will soon formally present his credentials to the Emir of the UAE during an official ceremony.

The Taliban and the UAE share economic ties, with the UAE winning contracts to manage operations at Kabul airport in 2022. In June, Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, further solidifying their relationship.