The Islamic Emirate on Wednesday reacted to a situation in Afghanistan’s embassy in Italy that arose, saying it has not appointed Mohammad Fahim Kashaf as the Islamic Emirate’s ambassador to Italy.
The Afghan embassy in Rome, which is staffed by diplomats appointed by the former government, reported that Kashaf was previously dismissed from his job as a diplomat at the embassy, but on Tuesday he “illegally” entered the embassy.
According to a statement released by the embassy, Kashaf entered the embassy’s premises with his teenage son and said he was appointed the new am-bassador.
The statement from the embassy in Rome said that Kashaf tried to attack the current ambassador, Khaled Ahmad Zekriya, but Zekriya defended him-self.
He (Khashaf) said he was appointed by the Taliban as the new ambassador, considering that previously the embassy had received letters from the Taliban about the continuation of his job, the statement reads.
According to the statement, the embassy informed Italy’s police and the police escorted Kashaf off of the embassy’s premises.
The Islamic Emirate’s Foreign Ministry said it had not appointed Kashaf as the new ambassador, but said pulling him out of the embassy was also unlaw-ful because he is still an active diplomat at the em-bassy.
Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the foreign ministry spokes-man said based on the documents, Kashaf was appointed the first secretary to the embassy by the former government for a term starting December 18, 2020, and going until December 19, 2023.
“No decision has been taken about his dismissal. His appointment by the Islamic Emirate of Afghani-stan as the ambassador to Italy is not true,” Balkhi said.
This comes as the Islamic Emirate has not sent any ambassador or diplomat to any diplomatic mission abroad except Pakistan.—Agencies
