Moldovan President Calls Visa Issuance to Taliban Delegation ‘Shameful’

DID Press: Moldovan President Maia Sandu has described the issuance of visas to a Taliban delegation as “shameful,” saying the decision was made without political coordination and contrary to the government’s stated policy, according to Moldovan state media.

Sandu said Moldova does not recognize the Taliban and has no policy of formal engagement with the group. She added that officials involved in processing the visas would face administrative and disciplinary action.

The delegation from the Taliban’s Ministry of Agriculture reportedly traveled to Moldova after a Moldovan agricultural company sought government assistance to expand exports to Afghanistan. According to Prime Minister Dorin Recean, the Agriculture Ministry subsequently sent the delegation’s information to the Foreign Ministry, migration authorities and border police.

Recean said Moldova’s migration authorities approved the applications because the delegation members were not listed under sanctions, after which the Foreign Ministry issued the visas. He said consultation with the country’s Intelligence and Security Service was not mandatory under the existing administrative procedure, leaving the agency unaware of the visit.

Sandu and Recean have both described the episode as a serious administrative failure, saying the visa process was handled as a routine bureaucratic matter rather than being subjected to the necessary political and security scrutiny.

The visit triggered criticism inside Moldova, with some political groups calling for the resignation of officials responsible. The government has stressed that the issuance of the visas does not amount to recognition of the Taliban and said procedures for handling similar cases must be strengthened.

The Taliban had previously said that Osmani, deputy minister at the group’s Ministry of Agriculture, traveled to Moldova at the head of a technical delegation following an “official invitation” from the Moldovan government. The Taliban said the delegation aimed to expand scientific cooperation, transfer agricultural technology, improve pest management and develop agricultural and commercial horticultural research.