Mon Sep 09 13:45:00 UTC 2024: ## Afghan Embassy in London to Close After Taliban Sack Staff

**LONDON, UK** – The Afghan embassy in London will be closing on September 27th after the Taliban dismissed all its staff. The decision follows the Taliban’s July announcement that it would not recognize embassies established by the previous Afghan regime.

Ambassador Zalmai Rassoul, who was appointed by the previous Afghan government, confirmed the closure on X, stating that it was at the “official request of the host country.”

A spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed the closure, stating that it was due to the Taliban’s dismissal of the embassy staff.

The closure of the London embassy adds to a growing list of Afghan embassies forced to close around the world. While some embassies in Europe remain operational, others, including the Afghan embassy in Washington D.C., have also been shuttered.

The Taliban, which seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021, is not recognized by the UK as the legitimate government. The UK has moved its own embassy from Kabul to Qatar and continues to engage with the Taliban government pragmatically.

Despite the lack of recognition, the UK continues to work with other countries to provide humanitarian aid to the Afghan people.

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