German public broadcaster ARD reports that a member of the Taliban has been installed as the head of Afghanistan’s embassy in Berlin without informing the German government.
According to ARD, the man identified as Nebrasul H. arrived in Germany last July as one of two low-level consular staff approved to assist with deportations of failed asylum seekers. While his arrival for that role was authorized by Berlin, ARD says confidential documents show he has also been acting and signing documents as chargé d’affaires, the diplomat who leads an embassy in the absence of an accredited ambassador.
The move appears to reflect the Taliban’s efforts to assert control over Afghanistan’s diplomatic missions abroad, even though the group is not officially recognized by most countries, including Germany. Under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the receiving state must be notified and approve any ambassador or head of mission before they assume that position.
ARD says its documents show Nebrasul H. is listed as chargé d’affaires in communications with Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry in Kabul and has been functioning in that capacity. The broadcaster noted that Germany is now reportedly the only EU member state where the Taliban are effectively running Afghanistan’s mission.
The German Foreign Ministry told ARD it had received no formal notification of personnel changes at Afghan diplomatic posts in Germany. Berlin does not recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate government and has repeatedly said it wants Afghan missions to be led by representatives of the pre-Taliban administration that governed before the August 2021 takeover.
ARD reports that the previous head of mission, named in the report as Abdul P., has been sidelined and stripped of authority. Sources told the broadcaster Abdul P. was viewed as untrustworthy by the Taliban because he had been appointed by the US-backed pre-Taliban government of President Ashraf Ghani. An internal letter cited by ARD says the Afghan Foreign Ministry had planned to delay informing Germany of the personnel change until March. Abdul P. reportedly persuaded Kabul he was still needed for his experience and has been allowed to remain in the ambassador’s residence in Berlin’s Zehlendorf district, continuing to use a vehicle with diplomatic license plates.
The second junior official who arrived with Nebrasul H. is said to be acting as the head of Afghanistan’s consular office in Bonn despite lacking recognition from German authorities. Some countries still maintain branch diplomatic offices in Bonn, the former capital and home to several federal ministries.
ARD’s report highlights tensions between the practical control exerted by the Taliban over Afghan missions and the legal and diplomatic constraints faced by host countries that do not recognize the group.
Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah