UAE Accepts Taliban Ambassador

ISLAMABAD — The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially accepted the credentials of Badruddin Haqqani as the Taliban’s ambassador, marking a significant diplomatic achievement for Afghanistan's rulers, who lack international recognition as the legitimate government. This appointment is notable as it is the first Taliban ambassador since one was designated to China in December 2022, reflecting the ongoing international debate regarding engagement with the Taliban-led government in Kabul. The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the development via social media, although it did not provide further details about Haqqani, who previously served as the Taliban's envoy to the UAE. Notably, he is not related to Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban's Acting Interior Minister and leader of the Haqqani network, a militant group designated as a global terrorist organization by the U.S. Despite their isolation from Western nations, the Taliban have been actively seeking to strengthen ties with regional powers, as evidenced by the recent visit of Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov to Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the United Nations has stated that formal recognition of the Taliban government remains "nearly impossible" due to ongoing restrictions on women and girls. In a related issue, Richard Bennett, a U.N.-appointed human rights expert, criticized the Taliban's decision to bar him from entering Afghanistan, calling it a setback for human rights dialogue. The Taliban's Foreign Ministry responded, asserting that Bennett's activities were counterproductive to Afghanistan's interests, suggesting he should conduct his work remotely.