History of diplomatic relations
In the first few years of the Estonian Republic, contacts between Estonia and Afghanistan did not exist. However, Afghanistan’s expansion of foreign ties in the 1920s and 30s reached all the way to Estonia. The first diplomatic contact between Estonia and Afghanistan took place on the level of their London embassies in 1923; these contacts did not develop past the level of courtesy visits. In 1930, however, an outlook for deepening ties developed. Afghanistan’s ambassador to Moscow, Sardar Mohammed Aziz (brother of King Mohammed Nadir-Shah), agreed with Estonian Ambassador Julius Seljamaa’s proposal that the two nations conclude a friendship agreement between them that could be the basis for further relations. The Estonian government hoped to find a market for Estonian goods in Afghanistan. Afghanistan had already signed analogous agreement with Finland and Latvia.
When the agreement project, which was modelled after the Afghanistan-Latvia friendship agreement of 1928, was approved, it was signed on 6 December 1930 in Tallinn (Foreign Minister J. Lattik and Ambassador Mohammed Aziz). The agreement was short and established inviolable peace and a serious and lasting friendship between both countries, and also foresaw the possibility of establishing diplomatic and consular relations as well as holding negotiations in trade matters. The agreement came into force in April 1931.
They never got to have trade negotiations, although trading did begin between Estonia and Afghanistan in 1932. Trading did not reach any remarkable level—in some years Estonia was able to export some paper and a small number of telephones to Afghanistan. Estonian imports from Afghanistan were trivial, consisting of a few chance purchases (rugs, furs).
Afghanistan recognised Estonia’s re-independence on 7 September 1991. Diplomatic ties were not established again between Estonia and Afghanistan until 1 July 2005.
Since the Taliban's military takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, restrictions on human rights have severely worsened in all areas in Afghanistan, particularly regarding women's and girls' rights.
Ambassadors
Eesti suursaadikud Afganistanis:
- Marge Mardisalu-Kahar (2019 - 2021)
- Väino Reinart (2011 - 2019)
- Harri Tiido (2008 - 2011)
Bilateral relations
-
Eesti-Afganistani sõpruslepingu kirjutati 06.12.1930, jõustus aprillis 1931.
-
Kallaletungi defineerimise konventsioon (KDK, The Convention for the Definition of Aggression) sõlmiti 1933 Londonis.
-
Ühelt poolt Euroopa Liit ja selle liikmesriikide ning teiselt poolt Afganistani Islamivabariigi vaheline partnerlus- ja arengukoostööleping allkirjastati 18.02.2017.
-
Eesti ja Afganistani välisministeeriumide vaheline koostöö memorandum on olnud töös alates 2017. aastast, protsess taaselustati 2021. aasta alguses Afganistani initsiatiivil.
Täpsemat infot Eesti ja Afganistani vaheliste välislepingute kohta leiad Riigiteatajast.
Economic contacts between the countries thus far have been modest. Due to security risks, civilian trade has become marginal. Estonian investments in Afghanistan are virtually non-existent.
Since 2006, Afghanistan was one of Estonia's priority partner countries for development cooperation, with a focus on education, security, health, improvement of the situation of women and children, and IT capacity building in all fields.
An example of successful development cooperation projects with Afghanistan was with the inclusion of Tallinn University that resulted in three Master's programmes for Kabul University's IT department. Thanks to the project, Afghan IT students are able to obtain higher education in Afghanistan.
After the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, Estonia paused all bilateral development cooperation projects in the country.
Estonian Defense Forces' mission to Afghanistan in 2003-2021 was Estonia's longest and largest contribution to international missions.
Estonia withdrew its forces from Afghanistan in June 2021.
Last updated: 09.09.2022