Taliban-appointed diplomat takes charge in Moscow Embassy

A diplomat appointed by the Taliban as their charge d’affairs in Moscow took office on Saturday, an official with the interim Afghan administration said.

Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, thanked Moscow for "accrediting the Afghan diplomat" and "facilitating the role of the Afghan Embassy in ensuring bilateral relations."

The US and its allies withdrew their troops from Afghanistan after 20 years of war, and the Taliban took power as the US-backed government collapsed last August.

The Taliban-led interim set up has yet to be recognized by the international community.