Taliban’s Amir Khan Muttaqi Meets Norway’s New Special Representative in Kabul

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban administration’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Bjørn Hansen, Norway’s new special representative for Afghanistan, in Kabul on Tuesday, May 12. According to a statement released by the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two sides discussed the political situation in Afghanistan, regional developments, and the expansion of bilateral relations.

During the meeting, the Norwegian representative stated that his country has historical ties with Afghanistan and seeks to play a “constructive” role in ensuring stability. He also referred to what he called the “security achievements” of the Taliban administration and emphasized the normalization of relations between the Taliban and the international community.

Muttaqi appreciated Norway’s approach and said that the current stability should be used to expand bilateral cooperation. The Taliban administration consistently urges countries to normalize official relations with it, although no country has yet recognized it as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.

Norway is among the Western countries that have maintained communication channels since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. Earlier, during the conflict between the Taliban, the former Afghan government, and international forces, Norway hosted several rounds of direct talks in Oslo.

Although Norway has accepted Taliban diplomats, like other Western countries, it follows a policy of practical and conditional engagement, focusing on limited cooperation, especially in humanitarian issues and migration matters, without granting full political legitimacy to the Taliban administration.

In recent months, the issue of deporting Afghan refugees has become a major focus of talks between Europe and the Taliban administration. Some European governments, facing domestic pressure linked to increasing migration, are trying to facilitate the return of migrants through engagement with the Taliban. This approach raises widespread concerns within Afghanistan about human rights conditions, social restrictions, and lack of job opportunities.

According to European media reports, a Taliban delegation is expected to travel to Brussels to hold talks with European Union officials regarding the matter of migrant deportations.