Türkiye Annuls Diplomatic Visa Exemption Agreement With Afghanistan

The Presidency of Türkiye announced that the diplomatic visa exemption agreement between Turkey and Afghanistan has been cancelled.

With the cancellation of this agreement, Turkish and Taliban officials will now need to undergo the visa application process for mutual entry into Afghanistan and Turkey.

According to a statement from the Turkish Presidential Office released on Wednesday, May 29, this decision, signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, will be implemented after June 1.

The decree signed by the Turkish president states, "The agreement between the Republic of Turkey and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on the reciprocal visa exemption for holders of diplomatic passports, signed by the President on September 29, 2007, and executed by the Council of Ministers on January 8, 2008, will be suspended as of June 1."

Türkiye made this decision based on Article 3 of Presidential Decree No. 9 of Türkiye. This decree outlines the president's authority regarding the approval of international agreements.

Article 3 of the decree states, "Agreements that regulate economic, commercial, or technical relations and do not exceed a duration of one year, agreements that do not impose financial obligations on the state, and do not affect the personal status or property rights of Turkish citizens in foreign countries, are approved directly by the president."

Türkiye has not yet officially recognised the Taliban; however, several Taliban officials have previously visited the country on official invitations. Türkiye has also accepted some Taliban diplomats.