Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (in exile)
In the immediate aftermath of the fall of the capital, Kabul to Taliban forces on 15 August 2021, Vice President Amrullah Saleh claimed the presidency of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and formed a government in exile. Saleh initially moved to Panjshir Province which was at that time not under Taliban control before relocating to Tajikistan when the Taliban took Panjshir three weeks later on 6 September 2021.
History
Saleh's proclamation
Taliban forces gained control of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul on 15 August 2021 and re-established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which had been displaced following the 2001 United States invasion of Afghanistan. President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, abandoning the presidency. Two days later, vice-president Amrullah Saleh proclaimed himself the acting president of Afghanistan, in accordance with articles 60 and 67 of the Constitution of Afghanistan which stipulate that the First Vice President assumes the duties of the President in the absence of the President. He also criticized US President Joe Biden and NATO, declaring in a tweet that "It is futile to argue with @POTUS on Afg now. Let him digest it. We d Afgs must prove tht Afgh isn't Vietnam & the Talibs aren't even remotely like Vietcong. Unlike US/NATO we hvn't lost spirit & see enormous oprtnities ahead. Useless caveats are finished. JOIN THE RESISTANCE." In a second tweet he wrote that "as per d constitution of Afg, in absence, escape, resignation or death of the President the FVP becomes the caretaker President. I am currently inside my country & am the legitimate care taker President. Am reaching out to all leaders to secure their support & consensus."
Fall of Panjshir
On 6 September, as the Taliban reportedly took full control of the Panjshir Valley, Saleh reportedly fled to Tajikistan. Mohammad Zahir Aghbar, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's ambassador to Tajikistan, however denied these reports on 8 September. Saleh's son Ebadullah told Reuters on 10 September that his father's brother Rohullah Azizi had been executed a day earlier in Panjshir by the Taliban.
According to U.S. intelligence, two senior former Afghan government officials, and a Pentagon consultant, Saleh escaped into Tajikistan shortly after the Taliban seized control of the Panjshir Valley on September 6, along with Ahmad Massoud.
Exile
On September 29, the Afghan Embassy in Switzerland released a statement from the government-in-exile stating that the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan led by Amrullah Saleh is the "only legitimate", democratically elected, government of Afghanistan and that no "external force" shall be accepted as the Afghan government whose support shall be extended to the National Resistance Front (NRF) led by Ahmad Massoud. It also stated that all the Afghan embassies under the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan shall carry on their regular work and that the activities of legislature and judiciary will be initiated soon with Saleh acting as the president.
International recognition
As of November 2025, only one country, Russia has formally recognised the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. However several other countries have handed over Afghan diplomatic missions to representatives of the Taliban.
United Nations
As of November 2025, the United Nations list of Heads of State, Heads of Government, and Ministers for Foreign Affairs of all Member States continues to list the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as a member state and the flag of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan continues to be used within the United Nations system. Naseer Faiq has served as Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations since December 2021, continuing to represent the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The Taliban have nominated Suhail Shaheen as their candidate for this position, but he has was rejected by the UN Credentials Committee.
Diplomatic missions
After the fall of Kabul in August 2021, several Afghan diplomatic missions claim to continue to represent the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan including the mission to the United Nations in New York City.
In the absence of a functional foreign ministry, a Coordination Group was established by the republican ambassadors in order to coordinate efforts via mostly online meetings, and a Council of Ambassadors acts as the embassies' government system.
International sport
Many international sports governing bodies continue to use the flag of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to represent the country.
See also
- Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
- Republican insurgency in Afghanistan
- National Resistance Front of Afghanistan
- Afghanistan Freedom Front