Turkey has downgraded its diplomatic level with the Afghan Taliban government in Kabul, a move being seen as a sign of growing dissatisfaction with the Haibatullah regime. According to diplomatic sources in Kabul, Turkey did not appoint a new ambassador after the term of its former envoy in Afghanistan ended. Instead, it lowered its diplomatic representation by assigning a Chargé d’Affaires.
Sources stated that the term of Turkey’s former ambassador, Cenk Ünal, ended in December 2025. Following his return to Ankara, no new ambassador was nominated for Kabul. Instead, senior Turkish diplomat Sadın İyldız was appointed as Chargé d’Affaires in Kabul, a position considered lower in rank than an ambassador in diplomatic practice.
Information from Kabul indicates that Sadın İyldız met with Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi a day earlier, formally notifying him of Turkey’s decision to reduce the level of diplomatic representation. This meeting took place at a time when the Taliban government is facing diplomatic isolation and international pressure.
Sources noted that after the Taliban’s return to power, Turkey has replaced its senior diplomatic envoy in Kabul at least twice. However, appointing a Chargé d’Affaires instead of an ambassador is now being viewed as a clear indication of relatively lower-level diplomatic engagement with the Taliban administration.
According to international diplomatic circles, the appointment of a Chargé d’Affaires instead of an ambassador indicates that the sending country does not feel full diplomatic trust or political alignment with the host government, and such a step is often taken to express dissatisfaction or concerns.
Sadın İyldız has previously served as Turkey’s Consul General in Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, and Ukraine and is considered an experienced diplomat. However, his appointment as Chargé d’Affaires in Kabul is being interpreted as reflecting cool relations and a cautious diplomatic stance between Turkey and the Taliban government.
