Moldovan President Maia Sandu has called a recent visit by a Taliban agricultural delegation to the country “shameful,” saying visas were issued to its members without coordination with the government’s official policy and that officials involved would face disciplinary measures.
According to IRAF, Sandu said in her latest official comments on the visit by the Taliban Ministry of Agriculture delegation that Moldova does not recognize the Taliban and has no plans for formal engagement with the group.
She said the visas had been issued without the necessary political and diplomatic coordination and that the process would be reviewed. Officials who facilitated the visit are expected to face disciplinary and administrative action, she said.
Prime minister also called visit ‘shameful’
Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean had previously described the Taliban delegation’s visit as “shameful” and the result of a “serious administrative failure”.
Recean said the process began after a Moldovan agricultural export company sought government support to expand exports to Afghanistan. The request triggered an administrative process that eventually led to the issuance of visas for members of the Taliban delegation.
According to the prime minister, Moldova’s Agriculture Ministry sent a report to the Foreign Ministry, the migration authorities and border police. Because the delegation members were not listed under sanctions, the migration authorities gave a positive assessment and the Foreign Ministry issued the visas.
Recean said consultation with Moldova’s Intelligence and Security Service was not mandatory under administrative procedures, leaving the agency unaware of the process.
Lack of political assessment sparks controversy
Both Sandu and Recean said the case had been handled as a routine administrative matter rather than being subjected to political and security scrutiny, leading to what they described as a serious mistake.
“The administrative procedure was followed, but there was no political or diplomatic assessment, and the result was a wrong decision,” Recean said.
The visit triggered criticism in Moldova, with some political groups calling for the resignation of officials responsible.
The government has reiterated that the visit does not amount to recognition of the Taliban and said changes are needed in the decision-making process to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The controversy comes days after Taliban officials said Osmani Sadr, a deputy agriculture minister, had arrived in Moldova at the head of a technical delegation following an official invitation from the Moldovan government.
The Taliban Agriculture Ministry described the visit as an official invitation from Moldova’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, saying the delegation aimed to expand scientific cooperation, promote the transfer of modern technologies, improve pest management, strengthen agricultural research and develop commercial horticulture.
The Taliban said it hoped the visit would provide access to European expertise and help strengthen the technical capacity of Afghan researchers.
