Uncertainty Surrounds Future of Afghan Embassy in Australia
Reports indicate that the closure of the Afghan embassy in Canberra is increasingly likely following the expiration of the accreditation of Wahidullah Waissi, the ambassador appointed by Afghanistan’s former government. This development has left thousands of Afghan nationals residing in Australia in limbo, sparking broad concern among the immigrant community.
Informed sources say the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs has notified Waissi that his official mission will not be extended beyond February. Waissi has served as Afghanistan’s ambassador to Australia since 2017 and continued to lead the embassy operations “in exile” following the fall of Kabul in 2021.
After the Taliban takeover, the Afghan embassy in Canberra remained one of the few diplomatic missions still functioning under diplomats from the former government. Until the Taliban’s decision in July 2024, the embassy continued to provide consular services such as issuing passports and visas to Afghan citizens. However, the Taliban’s announcement that it would no longer recognize documents issued by former government representatives effectively ended the embassy’s operations.
Migration experts warn that the potential closure of the embassy could significantly impede access to identity and official documents for thousands of Afghan migrants in Australia. Meanwhile, the Taliban’s ambiguous policies and pressure on former diplomatic institutions continue to deprive Afghan expatriates of basic rights and formal ties with their homeland.
