Taliban Envoy, UK Special Rep Discuss Consular Services for Afghans in London

DID Press: Mohammad Suhail Shaheen discussed bilateral matters and consular services for Afghan nationals in London with Richard Lenzi, UK’s special representative for Afghanistan, Taliban envoy said in a statement.

Shaheen, currently based in Doha, disclosed the meeting took place on Tuesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter). The scope of the discussion reportedly included restoring or ensuring access to consular services for Afghans in the UK, along with humanitarian assistance and education cooperation.

The move comes after the closure of Afghanistan embassy in London, which was shut down in September 2024 following the dismissal of its staff by the previous Afghan-government diplomats.

Since then, thousands of Afghans living in the UK and Ireland have faced difficulties renewing passports, obtaining civil documentation, or handling other consular needs — a situation that prompted concerns over legal limbo and lack of access to essential services.

In that context, Shaheen’s meeting with the UK envoy may mark a diplomatic step toward addressing the consular vacuum affecting the Afghan diaspora in Britain. However, details remain sparse — no agreement or formal outcome has yet been publicly disclosed.