Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus, has appointed Aleksandr Ogorodnikov as the Special Representative and non-resident ambassador for Afghanistan. Ogorodnikov currently serves as Belarus’s ambassador to Uzbekistan and will assume the additional responsibility alongside his existing post.
The Presidential Press Service of Belarus stated that the appointment aims to advance relations and manage affairs related to Afghanistan. Under this decision, the Belarusian ambassador to Uzbekistan will also serve as the non-resident representative for Afghanistan.
Belarus does not currently maintain an operational embassy in Kabul, and its diplomatic affairs concerning Afghanistan are handled through its embassy in Uzbekistan.
Despite this appointment, Belarus has not recognized the Taliban administration. However, Minsk, like several regional countries, maintains limited working relations and diplomatic contacts with the Taliban and emphasizes the development of economic cooperation with Afghanistan.
Previously, Belarus’s Minister of Foreign Affairs stated in a televised interview in Hoot 1404 (February–March 2026) that trade volume between Belarus and Afghanistan had reached approximately $200 million annually. He noted that bilateral trade exceeded this level in the previous year.
According to international media reports, Belarus has in recent years sought to expand its relations with Central Asian countries and Afghanistan’s neighbors. Political observers view the appointment of a non-resident ambassador for Afghanistan as part of this broader diplomatic approach.
Belarus is one of Russia’s closest allies. Russia remains the only country to have formally recognized the Taliban administration and established official relations with it.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
