Unpaid Since August And Bailing Out Local Staff's Honors, Afghanistan's Ambassador To China Leaves His Post

Afghan Ambassador to China Javid Ahmad Qaem. (Twitter/@JavidQaem)

JAKARTA - Afghanistan's ambassador to China, Javid Ahmad Qaem, left his post in early January after months without payment from Kabul following the Taliban's seizure of power, he said on Twitter.

In the handover letter dated January 1, also posted on Twitter, Qaem said many diplomats at the embassy had left. He said Kabul had not sent them salaries since August.

"There were many reasons, personal and professional, but I don't want to mention them here," he said his decision to leave.

In his letter, Qaem said a new person had been assigned to the embassy, referring only to him as 'Mr Sadaat.' Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment on who would be Ambassador Qaem's successor.

Qaem's letter also said that on January 1 there was a balance of US$100,000 in one of the embassy's bank accounts, as well as an undisclosed amount in another account. The letter also noted that the keys to five embassy cars would be left at Qaem's office and two cars would need to be disposed of.

"I have paid all the local staff until January 20, 2022. Their work has been completed," said Ambassador Qaem.

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in a daily briefing on Tuesday, Ambassador Qaem had left China, without giving details of when or where he had gone.

To note, international governments, including China, have not recognized the Taliban government as a legitimate government. Strict sanctions have crippled the country's public finances.

The Taliban's sudden return to power has left hundreds of Afghan diplomats abroad in limbo, fearful for family at home and desperate to secure refuge abroad.

Since August, China has called on the Taliban to pursue a policy of moderation while rooting out groups it sees as a threat to stability in the far western region of Xinjiang.

Beijing has also called on Western powers to end sanctions and send aid to Afghanistan.

China shares a short border with Afghanistan, with Beijing having sent humanitarian supplies into the country since the Taliban's sudden return in August.