Afghanistan’s Taliban government seeks diplomatic relations with new Syrian authorities

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government, has expressed his willingness to establish diplomatic relations with Syria’s new interim government. 

The announcement was made public by Hafiz Zia Ahmad, the director of public relations at the Afghan Foreign Ministry, on social media, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

On December 27, Muttaqi held a phone conversation with Assad Hassan al-Shaibani, the newly appointed Foreign Minister of the Syrian interim government. During the call, Muttaqi congratulated al-Shaibani on his appointment and extended his best wishes for the success and progress of Syria’s new government.

Muttaqi further emphasized his intention to strengthen ties between the two countries and establish well-structured diplomatic relations. 

In return, al-Shaibani expressed hope for improving bilateral relations and suggested that both countries enhance their cooperation through high-level visits and exchanges of delegations.

This development follows a period of intense conflict in Syria. In late November, armed opposition militias launched a significant offensive, which eventually led to opposition forces entering the Syrian capital, Damascus, on December 8. The political fallout from this offensive resulted in the resignation and fleeing of President Bashar al-Assad on December 9. 

The following day, on December 10, Mohammed al-Bashir, leader of the Salvation Government in Idlib, was appointed as the head of Syria’s new transitional government. This interim administration, formed in response to the collapse of the Assad government, is set to remain in power until March 2025.

By Tamilla Hasanova