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Former US diplomat: Sending diplomats back to Afghanistan would confer legitimacy on IEA
Amid reports of the US mulling the reopening of its consulate in Afghanistan, a former US diplomat and an Afghan diplomat have said that sending US diplomats back to Afghanistan without any concessions from the Islamic Emirate would not be neutral.
Annie Pforzheimer, former deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, and Ashraf Haidari, Afghan ambassador to Sri Lanka (appointed by the former government), said in an opinion in The Hill that an operational US embassy in Kabul would lead to other countries opening their missions, serving as an endorsement of the IEA.
“After all, an embassy is not a newspaper bureau of independent foreign correspondents; it is an ecosystem of diplomats whose presence would confer an unearned legitimacy on the Taliban (IEA) and require a strengthening of ties,” they wrote.
They said that given ongoing security threats, U.S. diplomats would need IEA guards on the compound and armed IEA escorts to move around; those diplomats’ meetings with Afghans would be as honest as a visit to “a Soviet-era Potemkin village”.
According to them, so much has been lost since the “ill-fated” Doha Agreement was signed four years ago.
“The only lever of international suasion remaining rests with diplomatic recognition and paths to power and money, which the Taliban want to possess without changing their ideology or repression,” they wrote.
They called on the U.S. and like-minded countries to strengthen their commitment to the Afghan people, rather than to concede to the IEA.
They said that the future UN special envoy’s nearly impossible job is to be the voice of a unitary international position on Afghanistan.
Earlier, VOA reported that the United States is reviewing the possibility of reopening its consulate in Afghanistan under the Islamic Emirate rule without formally recognizing it as a government.
US officials, however, rejected the report.
The Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan has announced scholarship opportunities for Afghan students under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program for the 2027 academic year.
According to the embassy, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan is offering scholarships for graduate-level study at Japanese universities under the research student category, including both regular and non-regular students.
Interested and eligible applicants can download the application guidelines and forms from the official Study in Japan website and are advised to carefully review all requirements before applying.
Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria and have prepared all required documents must submit their applications by 25 May 2026. The embassy said late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.
The first screening process will include a written examination in Kabul on 18 June 2026, followed by interviews scheduled for July 2026 (date to be confirmed).
The Embassy of Japan noted that the Aga Khan Foundation Afghanistan will assist in collecting applications and facilitating written examinations, but will not be involved in the selection process.
It further emphasized that the selection will be conducted independently by the embassy and the Japanese government, based on academic merit, quality of application documents, and performance in written and interview examinations, without consideration of religious, linguistic, or ethnic background.
The scholarship program is fully funded and free of charge. The embassy warned applicants to remain cautious against scams, stressing that no financial contributions are required at any stage of the application process.
Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, has launched the distribution of more than 1,000 residential land plots for returning migrants in Logar province.
During a visit to Logar, Hanafi inaugurated a new township and said the initiative aims to support Afghan returnees by providing them with housing opportunities and improving settlement conditions.
He called for speeding up the process of distributing residential plots designated for migrants, stressing the importance of timely implementation.
“We inaugurated this township today, which includes more than 1,000 plots. These plots will be distributed to migrants. In addition, other townships will also be constructed soon,” he said.
Hanafi also noted that over the past three years, more than five million Afghan migrants have returned from neighboring countries, adding that efforts are underway to provide them with essential services and support their reintegration.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, has urged the Afghan authorities to take concrete action against militant threats that Islamabad says originate from Afghan soil.
Speaking at an event at the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul marking the first anniversary of Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos against India, Nizamani reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining “brotherly ties” with Afghanistan.
The ambassador also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in reducing tensions between Iran and the United States, saying Islamabad’s initiatives reflected its commitment to regional and global peace.
During the ceremony, Nizamani reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to defend itself against any aggression.
“Pakistan’s desire for peace must never be mistaken for weakness,” the ambassador said, calling for heightened vigilance against regional threats.
Pakistani officials have consistently claimed that militants use Afghan soil to attack Pakistan. The Islamic Emirate, however, has denied this claim and said that Afghanistan is not responsible for Pakistan’s security failures.
Japan announces MEXT scholarships for Afghan students for 2027 academic year
New township to provide over 1,000 land plots for returnees in Logar
Ariana Afghan Airlines lowers cargo rates on Kabul–Delhi route to boost exports
Pakistan ambassador urges Afghan authorities to act against militant threats
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Afghanistan’s new cricket head coach Richard Pybus arrives in Kabul
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Germany to launch online visa system for Afghan study and work applicants in Pakistan
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