Fate of Afghanistan’s Embassies in Japan and Australia Remains Uncertain After Months of Closure
After months of suspended operations, the fate of Afghanistan’s embassies in Japan and Australia remains unclear. Former diplomats say the closure of these missions has created serious challenges for Afghan citizens residing in both countries, particularly in accessing consular services.
According to them, these challenges include issuing, renewing, and replacing passports, registering births, marriages, and divorces, and obtaining commercial documents. Assistance for detained citizens and providing legal advice are also among the services reportedly impacted.
Aziz Mearaj, a former diplomat, says that political representations—whether embassies, consulates, or other forms—not only facilitate relations between countries but also help resolve the problems faced by citizens on both sides.
Previously, a Taliban spokesperson stated that the acting Foreign Minister is working to provide consular services to Afghan citizens in these two countries. He claimed that the policies of some of these countries have hindered progress in this area.
The Afghan embassy in Australia was closed in January this year, and the Afghan mission in Japan also announced a complete suspension of its activities in the same month. Australia does not maintain official diplomatic relations with the Taliban administration, whereas the Japanese embassy in Kabul remains operational, and Japan’s ambassador meets with Taliban officials.
