Australia rejects Taliban legitimacy, closes Afghan embassy

Afghanistan is facing growing international isolation due to the Taliban regime’s non-democratic, authoritarian and violent policies, with Australia becoming the latest country to announce the closure of the Afghan embassy, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Sunday.

According to Australian media outlets SBS News and the National Tribune, the Afghan embassy in Australia will cease all diplomatic activities after June 2026, marking another major diplomatic setback for the Taliban government.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has stated that it will not recognise any diplomats, honorary consuls or representatives appointed by the Taliban regime. 

The Australian government has made it clear that it does not consider the Taliban government to be the legitimate representative of the Afghan people.

Canberra has strongly criticised and condemned the Taliban authorities for serious human rights violations, including restrictions on women and the systematic suppression of dissent, Australian media reports said.

The Refugee Council of Australia has warned that conditions inside Afghanistan have deteriorated to such an extent that citizens are fearful even of approaching Taliban-run institutions to obtain identity papers and other basic documents, highlighting the severity of the situation on the ground.

Experts say the closure of the Afghan embassy should not be viewed merely as an administrative decision but as a clear indication of growing global mistrust towards the Taliban regime. They argue that the Taliban’s extremist and authoritarian policies are rapidly pushing Afghanistan into deeper international isolation.

Since the Taliban’s return to power, the number of Afghan diplomatic missions shutting down worldwide has steadily increased, while several countries have restricted the entry of Afghan refugees or deported them due to security and policy concerns.

Analysts warn that Afghanistan’s future is increasingly trapped in a cycle of diplomatic isolation and economic paralysis, with the Taliban regime’s rigid and violent governance further aggravating the crisis.