RASC News Agency: Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, on Wednesday. The meeting, conspicuously lacking the Taliban’s official flag or diplomatic protocol, took place without public disclosure of its location by either party. Photographs released by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the absence of any flags a fundamental element of diplomatic protocol in formal meetings.
Following their return to power, the Taliban replaced Afghanistan’s tricolor flag with their white banner. However, no nation has officially permitted the display of the Taliban’s flag in diplomatic or official settings. In a statement issued by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to supporting the Afghanistani people, promoting stability, and advancing Afghanistan’s development and progress. The Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also released a statement detailing the discussions, which reportedly covered bilateral relations, economic cooperation, and regional issues. The ministry noted that the two sides explored ways to enhance trade between Afghanistan and the UAE and discussed marketing Afghanistani goods within Emirati markets.
Despite maintaining close relations with the Taliban, including transferring Afghanistan’s embassy and consulates to their control, the UAE has refrained from officially recognizing the regime. The UAE, which had previously recognized the Taliban during their first regime, has declined to extend the same recognition this time. Over the past three years, several high-ranking Taliban officials have visited the UAE, including Mullah Hassan, Mullah Yaqoob, Sirajuddin Haqqani, Amir Khan Muttaqi, and Abdul Haq Wasiq. Amir Khan Muttaqi’s arrival in the UAE on Tuesday marked yet another instance of the Taliban’s diplomatic outreach to the Gulf nation.
