ISLAMABAD, (TDI): On Thursday, thousands of Afghans in the UK and Ireland are facing a critical loss of support as the Afghan embassy in London prepares to shut down at the end of the month.
The closure follows a directive from the British government, which requested the embassy’s closure after the Taliban dismissed its staff for refusing to represent the current regime.
Among those affected is an eight-month-pregnant Afghan refugee in Dublin, who is deeply concerned about her unborn child’s future.
“My child is coming into a world where my documents are no longer valid, and my infant’s nationality is now in jeopardy,” she said, requesting anonymity.
Afghan Embassy Closure
Her passport has expired, and she is unable to renew it, leaving her in a difficult situation where she cannot return to Afghanistan due to the Taliban’s disapproval of women working, nor can she travel elsewhere.
The embassy, which is staffed by representatives of Afghanistan’s previous government—a regime supported by Western nations before the Taliban took over in 2021—has been crucial for providing essential services to Afghan nationals abroad.
Read More:UK Requests Closure of Afghan Embassy
However, the Taliban’s foreign ministry announced in July that it would no longer recognize documents issued by Afghan embassies in the UK and several other European countries due to what it described as a lack of “coordination.”
The UK, alongside the US and 13 other mostly European nations, does not recognize the Taliban government, making it unlikely that the embassy will reopen under the current circumstances.
Also Read: Germany Starts Deporting Afghans Since Taliban Takeover
This has left many Afghans, like the Dublin refugee, without access to vital services and in a state of uncertainty about their legal status and future prospects.
