On Monday, the Taliban announced the inauguration ceremony of Abdul Ghafar Bahar, the group's ambassador to Uzbekistan.

At the same time, sources told Afghanistan International that Tashkent told the Taliban not to place the flag of Uzbekistan next to the Taliban flag due to the lack of recognition of the group.

The Taliban's embassy in Uzbekistan said in a statement that some of the group's officials, Afghans living in Tashkent and Uzbek diplomats were present for the ceremony.

The Taliban has said that Abdul Ghafar Bahar has officially started his work as the group's ambassador to Uzbekistan.

On September 18, the Taliban's Foreign Ministry introduced Bahar as the group's proposed ambassador to Uzbekistan.

Although Uzbekistan, like all countries, does not recognise the Taliban government, it has close diplomatic and economic relations with the group and has given the Afghan embassy in Tashkent to the Taliban.