RASC News Agency: Senior U.S. officials have unequivocally stated that the United States has no plans to reopen its embassy in Kabul. On Friday, April 4, The Washington Examiner quoted James Hewitt, spokesperson for the National Security Council, as affirming that no dialogue is currently underway regarding the re-establishment of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Afghanistan. He added that the issue is not under consideration by the administration. Echoing this position, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State emphasized that Washington does not recognize any governing authority in Afghanistan. “We do not acknowledge any entity as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, and therefore, the reopening of our embassy is not being contemplated,” the spokesperson declared.
These remarks come in response to sustained calls from the Taliban for the United States to reopen its embassy in Kabul and to transfer control of the Afghanistan’s embassy in Washington. In an interview with Al Arabiya, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid urged the U.S. to take constructive steps toward restoring diplomatic relations and to respond to the group’s overtures. However, American officials continue to assert their refusal to recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan’s lawful government. During a recent visit to Kabul, a U.S. delegation reportedly explored the matter of formal recognition, yet no decision has emerged from those discussions.
Following the visit, Taliban authorities reportedly enacted a series of measures including the release of hostages and adjustments to certain domestic policies but these actions have done little to alter the U.S. position. The United States maintains its classification of the Taliban as a terrorist organization. In a recent address, Vice President J.D. Vance described the group as “one of the most dangerous terrorist organizations in the world.” On the other hand, Taliban officials have cautiously welcomed what they view as modest shifts in U.S. policy, such as the cancellation of bounty programs targeting senior Taliban leaders. Nevertheless, no substantive breakthroughs have been observed in diplomatic engagement or the normalization of bilateral ties.
Since the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in the summer of 2021, the American embassy in Kabul has remained closed. Diplomatic affairs concerning Afghanistan are currently managed through the U.S. mission in Doha, Qatar.
