Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesman for the Taliban Foreign Ministry, announced that the signature and address of Abdul Jaber Ansar, as the Consul General of Afghanistan in Mashhad, is “invalid.” Mr. Balkhi said that Mr. Ansar “can no longer abuse diplomatic immunities and privileges in Iran.
“The Taliban Foreign Ministry stated that Abdul Jaber Ansar was dismissed from his position as Consul General of Afghanistan in Mashhad, Iran, on the 6th of Jawza based on an order from the group’s cabinet. After this, his signature is considered invalid. The Taliban accused the Consul General of Afghanistan in Mashhad of “engaging in illegal activities and disrupting the provision of consular services to merchants and other Afghan citizens” after being dismissed by the group.
Nasser Kanaani, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, announced that any change in the consular staff of Afghanistan in Mashhad must be in accordance with the 1963 Vienna Convention. Iran’s position indicates that it has not yet agreed to the change of the Afghan Consul General in Mashhad.
