Dubai, 23 August 2024 (TDI): The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has accepted the credentials of an ambassador from the Afghan Taliban’s government, AFP reported.
The UAE becomes only the second country after China to do so.
According to the official X handle of the Afghan Foreign Ministry, Mawlawi Badruddin Haqqani, Ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to the UAE, handed over a copy of his credentials to the Assistant Undersecretary for Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Saif Abdullah Al Shamsi, during a ceremony held today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates.
While speaking to the AFP today, an official of the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the decision was aimed at “building bridges” to help the Afghan people.
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Under the recent agreement between the two countries, a UAE firm, GAAC, will manage Afghan airports. GAAC will be the first foreign firm to take hold of Afghan airports after the US forces withdrawal and the return of the Taliban in August 2021.
The development is being seen as a big success for the interim Afghan government which has failed to garner support internationally, especially from the US and its allies.
“The world recognises the challenges faced by Afghanistan over the past few years,” an Emirati official told AFP.
“The decision to accept the credentials of the ambassador of Afghanistan reaffirms our determination to contribute to building bridges to help the people of Afghanistan.”
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He said the UAE government will be involved in humanitarian and development work in the country, while also playing its role towards “regional de-escalation and stability”.
The UAE was one of the three countries, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, to have recognized the previous Afghan Taliban government, which was overturned by the US in 2001 following the 9/11 incident.
Last week, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan also visited Afghanistan’s prime minister who received treatment in an Emirati hospital.
