Relationship dossier
Afghanistan
Italy
Relationship assessment
Italian military and reconstruction engagement gave way to humanitarian assistance and non-recognition after the Taliban takeover.
Afghanistan toward Italy
Not assessedInformation about direct Taliban-government cooperation with Italy is insufficient to assess Afghanistan’s current policy toward Italy.
Italy toward Afghanistan
+35Italy contributed troops to the NATO-led mission, led reconstruction work in Herat, organized evacuations of Afghan nationals in 2021, and continued humanitarian assistance after the Taliban takeover.
Overall relationship
Not assessedHow to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Italy contributed troops to the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan and led reconstruction work in Herat. After the Taliban returned to power in 2021, Italy organized evacuations of Afghan nationals and continued humanitarian assistance, while not recognizing the Taliban administration. Information about direct Taliban-government cooperation with Italy is insufficient to assess Afghanistan’s current policy toward Italy.
Areas of tension
- Italy does not recognize the Taliban administration, amid concerns over its governance and restrictions on women and girls.
Key developments
Italy led a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Herat as part of its engagement in Afghanistan.
Italy organized the evacuation of Afghan nationals following the Taliban takeover.
Italy continued humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan while not recognizing the Taliban administration.
Major uncertainties
- The scope of direct cooperation between Italy and the Taliban administration is unclear.
- The extent and channels of Italy’s humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan may change over time.