Italy has no current plans to reopen its embassy in the Afghan capital, foreign minister Luigi Di Maio stated on Thursday, after a Taliban spokesman said he hoped the embassy would reopen in the near future.
"It's certainly not happening now and it is premature to speak about it. Currently, the necessary security conditions don't exist," Di Maio said.
He made the remarks during an informal meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brdo, Slovenia on at how the bloc might work with strategic partners to ease the worsening political, humanitarian and security situation in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover last month.
"Clearly, every step towards reopening diplomatic representations in Afghanistan or other countries should be taken in complete agreement with the EU and the entire international community," Di Maio said.
Earlier on Wednesday, in an interview published in La Repubblica daily, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said he hoped Italy would "soon" reopen its embassy in Kabul and recognise their government.
Italy last month moved its embassy in Kabul to Rome late last month ahead of the Taliban's 31 August deadline for Western forces to leave.
