Taliban renews call for US to reopen embassy in Kabul

The Taliban has once more demanded that the US re-establish diplomatic relations and reopen its embassies in Kabul and Washington, five years after they took control of Afghanistan. In an interview with RT India, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid reiterated the group's desire for better relations with all nations, including the United States, emphasizing the significance of Afghanistan-US ties.

He also urged Washington to modify its "war policy" and reopen the embassy in Kabul, which was closed in August 2021 following the US troop withdrawal and the Taliban's takeover of the capital. The US has yet to react to the Taliban's repeated requests to reopen the embassy, although communication channels remain open on various matters.

Mujahid highlighted the issue of frozen Afghan assets as a crucial factor in improving bilateral relations, explaining that some of these funds belong to the Afghan central bank and others to Afghan businessmen. These frozen reserves have been a persistent source of conflict between the Taliban and Washington since their return to power, alongside concerns over human rights, women's rights, and counterterrorism.

Mujahid noted that Afghanistan maintains normal relations and official interactions with numerous Islamic states, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Iran, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan. He emphasized that the decision to grant official recognition lies with each nation and rejected the idea that international recognition should be contingent upon policy changes.

When questioned about potential lifting of restrictions on women's education and employment in exchange for recognition, Mujahid dismissed any link between the two, stating that such obstacles continue to hinder broader international acceptance of the Taliban government. Despite the passage of five years since the Taliban's return to power, their government remains unrecognized by a vast majority of the international community. Russia was the first country to officially acknowledge the Taliban in July 2025.