Relationship dossier
Afghanistan
New Zealand
Relationship assessment
New Zealand’s military and development engagement with Afghanistan gave way to humanitarian assistance after the 2021 government change.
Afghanistan toward New Zealand
+15During the Islamic Republic period, Afghan authorities cooperated with New Zealand’s Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamiyan. The Taliban authorities’ subsequent approach to New Zealand is unclear.
New Zealand toward Afghanistan
+20New Zealand deployed personnel to Afghanistan, including to lead a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamiyan, and provided development assistance. After the 2021 Taliban takeover, New Zealand evacuated people from Afghanistan and provided humanitarian assistance without recognizing the Taliban government.
Overall relationship
+15The relationship included sustained New Zealand military and development engagement with Afghanistan during the Islamic Republic period. The 2021 change of government altered the basis for official engagement; New Zealand’s subsequent evacuation and humanitarian assistance have not amounted to recognition of the Taliban authorities.
How 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
New Zealand maintained a substantial military and development role in Afghanistan during the Islamic Republic period, including a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamiyan. After the Taliban takeover in 2021, New Zealand evacuated people from Afghanistan and provided humanitarian assistance, while not recognizing the Taliban government. The change in Afghanistan’s government makes the continuity and scope of bilateral engagement uncertain.
Key developments
New Zealand began leading a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamiyan as part of its Afghanistan deployment.
New Zealand completed its Provincial Reconstruction Team role in Bamiyan.
Following the Taliban takeover, New Zealand evacuated people from Afghanistan and provided humanitarian assistance without recognizing the Taliban government.
Major uncertainties
- The Taliban authorities’ policy toward New Zealand and the scope of direct government engagement are unclear.
- The scale and channels of New Zealand assistance to Afghanistan after the 2021 takeover may have changed.