The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is deeply concerned by alarming reports that the Canberra-based Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan may soon close, following pressure from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the wake of a demand sent by the Taliban that the Ambassador be removed. RCOA calls on the Federal Government to ensure that this does not happen, and that Afghans in Australia are not left without vital consular and diplomatic support.
According to the Department of Home Affairs, in June 2023, 78,370 people born in Afghanistan live in Australia, forming one of the largest diaspora communities in the country. Since the fall of Kabul in 2021, 26,500 people from Afghanistan have been granted humanitarian visas in Australia as a response to the crisis, whilst more than 250,000 people have applied for humanitarian protection. In addition, 3,782 Afghan refugees have been granted Resolution of Status visas.
Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, the Embassy represents the state of Afghanistan, and since 1988, Australia has had an official policy of recognising states, not governments, which is why the Embassy has been able to continue its services independently for over four years since the Taliban overthrew the government by unconstitutional means.
The Convention also requires personal records and information to be kept confidential and safe. Many Afghans rely on the Embassy for essential documents such as passports, identity verification and birth records which are crucial for visa applications, employment and routine activities such as opening bank accounts.
The Embassy has been an active supporter of women’s rights, regularly joining key initiatives to prevent violence against women and promote gender equality, which is under severe threat under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Its continued presence in Canberra has helped build a diplomatic bridge between the Afghan diaspora and Australian institutions.
With Afghanistan under Taliban control, many Afghans fear that the loss of the Embassy would force them to seek essential identity documents directly from Taliban-run authorities. Even Afghan-Australians seeking election to the Commonwealth Parliament could be forced to seek Taliban approval to renounce Afghan citizenship. This raises serious concerns, including the risk that personal information could be accessed, and jeopardises refugee protection claims and potentially could endanger family members still in Afghanistan.
RCOA is concerned that the Embassy closure could be interpreted as a shift towards consular engagement with the Taliban. For many Afghans in Australia, this raises questions about how future travel documents would be issued and whether they would be required to interact with the authorities they fled. Without secure and reliable pathways, thousands of people could face delays in proving their identity, visa processing, protection claims, and family reunion.
RCOA Vice-President Emeritus Professor William Maley says the closure of the embassy could have serious implications.
“There is no doubt that closure of the Afghan Embassy would be seen by the Taliban as a major victory, no matter how the Australian Government might wish to depict it. It would be a serious psychological blow not just to Afghans in Australia and those seeking protection, but also to Australian military and civilian personnel who served in Afghanistan, and to the families of those whose lives were lost. And it would also fatally compromise Australia’s attempts to send firm signals to the Taliban via Australia’s recent move to establish an autonomous sanctions regime applicable to Taliban leaders.”
RCOA calls on the government to ensure that all Afghans in Australia continue to have a trusted avenue for representation and support through the Embassy, which plays a vital role in empowering the Afghan diaspora community.
