Afghanistan envoys marooned abroad after Taliban’s sudden return

Hundreds of Afghan diplomats still living abroad, many saying money is running out and they fear over family’s safety.

The Taliban’s abrupt return to power has left hundreds of Afghan diplomats overseas in limbo: running out of money to keep missions operating, fearful for families back home and desperate to secure refuge abroad.

The group, which swiftly removed Afghanistan’s Western-backed government on August 15, on Tuesday said it had sent messages to all of its embassies telling diplomats to continue their work.

But eight embassy staff who spoke to Reuters news agency on condition of anonymity, in countries including Canada, Germany and Japan, described dysfunction and despair at their missions.