Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan
Office of the Spokesperson

Press release

Afghan Government Denies Contact with Israel

Media reports in the past 24 hours quote an Israeli spokesperson claiming that the Afghan Government has established contacts with the State of Israel, with the intention to "normalize relations."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan denies the validity of these reports. Afghan Government officials have not contacted nor made any overtures toward Israel concerning normalization of relations now or at any time in the past.

It is possible, however, that a note verbal sent out recently by Afghanistan's UNESCO mission in Paris may have inadvertently created the confusion. This note was sent to all missions, including Israel, asking for that organization's member States to support Afghanistan's candidacy for a UNESCO committee seat. Afghanistan does not have diplomatic relations with Israel.

This matter was a cause of further confusion as the media reported it from one source only, without verification or confirmation from the second source - in this case the Afghan Government.

Afghanistan has re-established relations with many countries since the downfall of the Taliban terrorist regime on the basis of its national interests and for the sake of promoting regional and global peace, stability, justice and economic growth. These principles will guide Afghanistan's future relations with other countries, and any change or development in this regard will be made public through official channels.

Office of the Spokesperson

Kabul