Informed sources within the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs say the group has reached an agreement with the French government to send its diplomats to the Afghan Embassy in Paris. According to these sources, four Taliban diplomats are expected to be dispatched to France in the initial phase.
The sources said on Saturday, 23 Aqrab (November 14), that the diplomats are currently awaiting French visas and may arrive in the country as early as next week. They added that, under the agreement, the Taliban diplomats will be tasked with managing the affairs of the Afghan Embassy in Paris.
According to the sources, the agreement was reached after the Taliban agreed to cooperate with French authorities in verifying the identities of Afghan nationals whom France intends to deport to Afghanistan.
However, informed sources at the Afghan Embassy in Paris have also confirmed that France has agreed to the presence of Taliban diplomats, although they put the number at two. This contradicts the Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ account, which says four diplomats will be sent.
The report indicates that French officials have not responded to the media outlet’s questions regarding the possible visit of Taliban diplomats. Neither the Taliban nor the French government has so far issued an official statement on the matter.
Pascal Confavreux, spokesperson for the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, previously said at a press briefing in Paris that discussions with the Taliban were primarily focused on the deportation of Afghan nationals residing in France without legal authorisation who, according to French authorities, are considered a threat to public order.
In remarks made on 14 Aqrab (November 5), he stressed that, at the time, no Taliban-affiliated consular delegation was present in Paris and that the establishment of any such working group had not been confirmed.
These developments come after France confirmed last week that it had held discussions with the Taliban regarding the direct return of a number of Afghan nationals.
France severed diplomatic relations with the Taliban following the group’s return to power, and the French Embassy in Kabul remains closed.
Writer:Roya Stanikzai
