According to reports, on December 15, the Taliban dismissed Consul Naqibullah Dehkonzoda from his position, coinciding with the suspension of the consulate's operations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan confirmed this information, adding that this decision was made by the Afghan authorities, as reported by "Asia-Plus".
The ministry noted: "We are aware of this issue. According to international agreements, the decision to open or close a consulate in another country is an exclusive prerogative of the government."
Naqibullah Dehkonzoda, who was appointed consul in Khorog under the previous Afghan government, began to interact with the new authorities after the Taliban took power. According to available information, he transferred $120,000 to the Taliban's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dehkonzoda's dismissal occurred amid rumors of his possible appointment as the new ambassador of Afghanistan to Tajikistan, replacing Mohammad Zahir Agbar, who served under the previous regime.
It should also be noted that in the fall of 2023, Mohammad Zahir Agbar claimed that the activities of the consulate in Khorog had been suspended due to a lack of financial resources. However, Dehkonzoda denied this information, stating that the consulate continues to operate under the control of the Taliban.
At the same time, the Tajik Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed in February 2024 that the consulate in Khorog does not fall under the authority of the Taliban, and Tajikistan has not accredited any representatives of the new Afghan authorities.
Tajikistan remains the only country in Central Asia that does not have official political and diplomatic relations with the Taliban. Nevertheless, there has been an increase in contacts at the government level recently, which may indicate a potential improvement in relations between the countries.
