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· collected 2026-08-20 · by Hamidullah Mohammad Shah
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has expanded its diplomatic ties with various countries, despite not receiving formal global recognition. According to Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Kabul is currently dealing with more than 40 diplomatic missions and foreign organizations. China has emerged as one of the Taliban's most prominent partners, cooperating closely on security and investment, particularly in mining projects such as the Logar copper mine. The Taliban's relations with neighboring Pakistan are complex, with tensions rising over claims that Afghanistan is supporting the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) armed group.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has managed to establish pragmatic relationships with several countries, including China, Russia, and European nations, despite not being formally recognized as a legitimate government by most of the international community. Five years after regaining power, the Taliban have expanded their ties in areas such as security, trade, energy, and transportation with various countries. China has emerged as one of their key partners, cooperating closely on security and investment, particularly in mining projects like the Logar copper mine. Meanwhile, Russia became the first country to officially recognize the Afghan government in July 2025. Despite this recognition, many other nations continue to withhold full political recognition due to concerns over women's rights and governance issues. The Taliban now deals with more than 40 diplomatic missions, including embassies and consulates, as well as dozens of foreign organizations operating in Kabul.
Written for “Taliban Global Diplomatic Gains” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has successfully expanded its ties in security, trade, energy, and transport with various countries, five years after returning to power in Afghanistan almost as an international pariah.
asserted
government → expand → pariah
While Russia became the first country to officially recognise the Afghan government in July 2025, the majority of the international community continues to withhold full political recognition, according to diplomatic sources and political experts.
uncertain
majority → become → sources
Still, despite the lack of formal global recognition, the government in Kabul has actively integrated itself into the regional diplomatic landscape – and its relations with multiple countries are only growing.
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relations → integrate → countries
Expanding diplomatic footprint
Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi told Al Jazeera that Kabul is “currently dealing with more than 40 diplomatic missions, including embassies and consulates in various countries, in addition to dozens of foreign missions and organisations working in Kabul”.
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Kabul → expand → Kabul
China has emerged as one of the Taliban’s most prominent partners, managing its embassy in Kabul and cooperating closely on security and investment.
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China → emerge → security
The partnership is heavily anchored in mining, particularly the Logar copper mine project, which a Chinese company secured under a 2008 contract with a declared investment of nearly $3.4bn.
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company → anchor → 3.4bn
In January 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping formally accepted the credentials of the Taliban’s ambassador to Beijing, even though China does not officially recognise the current government in Kabul.
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China → accept → Kabul
Regional trade and tensions
Relations with neighbouring Pakistan represent the most complex dynamic for the Taliban.
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Relations → neighbour → Taliban
For decades, Pakistan was widely viewed as a key patron and ally of the Afghan Taliban, helping arm, finance and shelter leaders of the movement.
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Pakistan → view → movement
But relations have frayed dramatically since the Taliban returned to power, especially over Pakistan’s claims – which Kabul rejects – that Afghanistan is offering shelter and support to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) armed group.
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Afghanistan → fray → group
Kabul has increasingly used trade and border crossings as leverage, diversifying its trade routes through Iran and Central Asia to reduce reliance on Pakistani ports.
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Kabul → use → ports
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan is actively building economic ties with the Taliban, signing trade agreements in 2026 worth approximately $520m.
A proposed railway project linking Uzbekistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan aims to give Central Asian countries access to the Arabian Sea.
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project → build → Sea
Turkmenistan is similarly engaging with Kabul through the multibillion-dollar TAPI gas pipeline project, which includes a 735km (457-mile) stretch inside Afghanistan.
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which → engage → Afghanistan
Security expert Abdul Jalil Amini told Al Jazeera that anxiety over the ISIL (ISIS) group represents a “more pressing motive” for Russia and Central Asian states to cooperate with the Taliban.
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Russia → tell → Taliban
Amini noted that these countries believe the Taliban is capable of controlling shared borders and has succeeded in maintaining a degree of security and stability.
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Taliban → note → security
Balancing regional powers
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Balancing → balance → powers
Iran and India are also carefully navigating their interests in the country.
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Iran → navigate → country
Tehran maintains extensive relations in trade and energy, offering the Chabahar port as an alternative route for Kabul, despite ongoing friction over the sharing of the Helmand River waters.
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Tehran → maintain → waters
Meanwhile, New Delhi is gradually rebuilding its ties to counter Pakistani and Chinese influence.
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Delhi → rebuild → influence
Farid Mamundzay, the former Afghan ambassador to India, told Al Jazeera that the Taliban operates a “pragmatic policy through which it seeks to maintain balanced relations with various powers to serve its interests”.
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it → tell → interests
Gulf states like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have maintained their diplomatic presence in Kabul, though their engagement remains limited compared with Central Asian nations.
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engagement → maintain → nations
Ahmed Karimi, a professor of international relations at Kabul University, told Al Jazeera that the stance of Saudi Arabia and the UAE is “more conservative” this time, settling for merely accepting diplomats from the movement.
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stance → tell → movement
Western nations continue to communicate with the Kabul government primarily over security, counterterrorism, migration, and humanitarian aid, though issues surrounding women’s rights and governance remain major obstacles to formal recognition.
Strategic relations expert Najib al-Kuzi told Al Jazeera that the relationship between Washington and Kabul “did not stop since the American withdrawal, but they were largely confined to the security and intelligence fields”.
European countries also maintain working relations, with the European Union mission continuing its operations from Kabul.
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mission → continue → Kabul
