Kabul regrets Norway’s decision to downgrade ties

KABUL (Pajhwok): The interim government has voiced disappointment over Norway’s decision to downgrade diplomatic ties with Afghanistan.

Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, said the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) believed such decisions should not be tied to internal affairs of other countries.

In a post on X, Balkhi wrote on Friday: “Diplomatic engagement is most effective when it fosters mutual understanding and respect, even amidst differing viewpoints.”

He called access to consular services a fundamental right of all citizens, urging all parties to prioritise the principle in the spirit of international cooperation.

On Thursday, Norway announced its refusal to accredit any new envoy appointed by IEA over the treatment of Afghan women and girls.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said after the closure of the Afghan embassy in Oslo: “We have made it clear to IEA that there is no question of accepting a new Afghan ambassador.”

In a statement, the minister said Norway would only accept an Afghan official to handle “consular affairs, visas and other urgent matters.”

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