A delegation from Afghanistan’s Taliban-controlled Ministry of Agriculture has arrived in Moldova after obtaining visas under circumstances that the Moldovan government says it is investigating, prompting questions over how the visit was authorised, according to Free Europe.

Moldova does not recognise Taliban rule, making the circumstances surrounding the delegation’s arrival and the issuance of its visas particularly sensitive for the government in Chisinau.

Moldova’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) said the delegation was not subject to international sanctions but stressed that Chisinau does not recognise the Taliban government and that no official meetings or bilateral contacts with its representatives would take place.

The MAE said the visit was initiated following discussions between Moldovan agricultural producers and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry over possible humanitarian exports to Afghanistan, which is facing severe food insecurity, according to NewsMaker.md.

The Ministry of Agriculture, cited by Unimedia, provided a different explanation, saying a Moldovan company specialising in phytosanitary products had requested invitations for the Afghan officials as part of efforts to conclude commercial contracts in Afghanistan.

The discrepancy prompted the Foreign Ministry to order an investigation into how the invitation and visas were issued, as well as a review of the relevant internal procedures.

“The government ordered a verification of the manner in which the invitation and visas were issued, as well as a review of internal procedures,” the MAE said, according to NewsMaker.md.

The Afghan delegation was described by Afghan media as a high-level group from the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock that had travelled to Moldova at the invitation of the Moldovan government to discuss expanding practical and technical cooperation between the two countries.

"Afghanistan's Ministry of Agrarian Affairs, Livestock and Irrigation's Agrarian Affairs and Livestock Deputy Minister Maulvi Prime Minister Usmani, in the leadership of a high-ranking delegation, has departed upon the official invitation of the Republic of Moldova's Ministry of Food and Agriculture for an official visit to Europe," a statement posted on the ministry's X account on August 3 said. 

The MAE rejected that characterisation, saying no bilateral meetings or official contacts would take place with the delegation.

“We note that the Republic of Moldova strictly complies with international sanctions regimes and does not recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan,” the ministry said.

The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021 and has since governed the country without broad international recognition. The regime has faced international criticism over restrictions on women’s and girls’ rights, including access to education and employment.