1. Former Ambassadors to the Netherlands:
Enayatullah Nabiel, Nabil, Nabeel (20110210 -20150607)
Obaidullah Obaid (20150608)
Dr Mohammad Homayoon Azizi (20190410)
Asif Rahimi (20200112)
 

Embassy Staff:
Jamrad Jamshid previous Functions:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director of Western Europe Dept.
Mr. Jamrad Jamshid (Embassy to the Netherlands Chargé d'Affaires ad interim 29 July 2010)
Mr. M. Asif Nikbin (First Secretary) nikbin@afghanistanembassy.nl
Mr. Shafiullah Khawari (First Secretary) khawari@afghanistanembassy.nl
Mr. Fazulrahman Fazilyar (Second Secretary) fazilyar@afghanistanembassy.nl
Mr. Farhad Hedayat (Second Secretary) f.hedayat@afghanistanembassy.nl
Mr. Farid Ahmad Fazli (Third Secretary) fazli@afghanistanembassy.

2. Previous Functions Mohammad Asif Rahimi:
Manager CARE-USA Operations Afghanistan (198910-200102)
CARE-Canada Manager South Asia Area (20011-200503),
Head of National Solidarity Program NSP  (200503-200604),
Deputy Minister Rural Development and Rehabilitation MRRD (200604-200810)
Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (200810-201410)
Country Manager LAPIS Afghanistan, Moby Group (201503-201505)
Provincial Governor Herat (20150427-20181111 resigned)
Ambassador to the Netherlands (20200112)
 

3. Biodata
Mohammad Muhammad Asif Rahimi Mohammad Asef Rahimi, was born 1959 and raised in Paghman District, Kabul Province, Afghanistan. He holds a bachalor degree from Kabul University 1981 and has completed his post-graduate studies 1989 in Management of Development Programs from Omaha University in the US. He was educated in civil engineering at Kabul University and in public administration and management at Nebraska University in the United States.
 
Rahimi has worked extensively in the area of development and humanitarian relief both in Afghanistan and abroad. For over a decade he worked with CARE-USA as manager of CARE operations in Afghanistan. After he moved to Canada in 2001 Rahimi joined CARE-Canada as South Asia regional manager.

Returning to Afghanistan in early 2005, Rahimi joined the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) as the head of National Solidarity Program (NSP) -the flagship community development initiative of the government of Afghanistan.

Since April 2006 he has served as the Deputy Minister for Programs in MRRD, a profile in which he leads all of the ministry's national and regional initiatives in rural development, infrastructure, and economic regeneration. 

One cable from the U.S. mission in Kabul in early year 2008 noted that the agriculture minister, Asif Rahimi, "appears to be the only minister that was confirmed about whom no allegations of bribery exist."

He was appointed Provincial Governor Herat Apr 27, 2015.

People speak of Rahimi as a symbolic and ceremonial official with little influence. They also describe him with phrases like ‘overly conservative’ or ‘extremely cautious.’ He is mostly seen meeting foreigners and various groups of local government officials and people in his office, speaking at events and opening exhibitions. Like other non-Herati governors, Rahimi is not heavily involved in Herat’s political and economic dynamics. In November 2016, Rahimi himself even referred publicly to his lack of power in Herat. Acting in this rather constrained way has helped him do one main thing: maintain his office, albeit without being able to deliver much. Additionally, as a governor on generally good terms with the two NUG leaders, as well as with Ismail Khan, Rahimi represents a weak administration that is more involved in its own internal politicking than public service delivery.(20170111)

The Governor of Western Herat Province Mohammad Asif Rahimi has resigned from his post, a source said on Saturday, Nov 11, 2019.

According to the source, the president accepted the resignation of Rahimi who served as the governor of Herat from 2015 till this date.

The Afghan embassy in the Netherlands, as the agreed-upon diplomatic channel between Afghanistan and the ICC, was notified of the judges’ decision on 31 October 2022. Asked about his intentions, ambassador Muhammad Asif Rahimi said on 2 November 2022 that the embassy had always supported justice, reparation for victims and prevention of atrocities and he hoped the ICC would be able to satisfy Afghan war victims and the Afghan nation with its impartial and holistic efforts. He confirmed that the embassy would not take any further action instead would wait for the positive efforts of the ICC and its prosecution. (20221111)

The Afghan embassy in the Netherlands declared in a statement on 07 October 2023 that it was interacting with the Islamic Emirate to offer consular services to Afghan nationals living in that nation.

A source privy to the issue, said that the Council of Republic Ambassadors has expelled Asif Rahimi, ambassador to the Netherlands, and Rahim Pirzada, ambassador to Spain, from their council due to their meetings with Taliban officials, including the Taliban’s foreign minister.(202408019

Rahimi speaks Dari and English.

More Background:

Mohammad Asif Rahimi serves as the ambassador of the previous Afghan government to the Netherlands. He previously led Care Afghanistan and held the position of Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock during Hamid Karzai’s administration. Additionally, Rahimi has a history of membership in Hizbi-Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and holds Canadian citizenship.

A source reports that Rahimi traveled to Kabul shortly after the Taliban’s takeover and received assurances from them to continue his mission. However, this guarantee was conditional upon his close cooperation with the Taliban. The source claims that a significant aspect of this collaboration revolves around cases related to crimes against humanity at the Hague court, where the Taliban faces accusations of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against women and girls.

The source further asserts that Rahimi has actively supported the Taliban regime. He not only hopes to continue his mission but also seeks to defend and whitewash the Taliban’s image on the international stage, particularly concerning critical cases at the Hague court. This includes efforts to downplay accusations against the Taliban and obstruct international investigations into war crimes and human rights violations. Such actions suggest that Rahimi aligns himself with the interests of the Taliban regime.

Another source reveals that the embassy facilitated the travel of Abdul Bari Omar, the former head of the Taliban’s judiciary, to Europe. Omar addressed a group of Afghan citizens in Germany, provoking significant reactions.

Currently, the Afghan embassy in the Netherlands operates under the directives and policies of the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, providing consular services that include visa issuance, passport renewals, identity verification, inheritance pledges, travel permits, and marriage certificates. All requests for these services are sent to the Taliban’s Ministry for approval.

However, in an interview Rahimi, without naming the Taliban, stated, “Some have claimed that our embassy officials have whitewashed or blackwashed individuals; this is completely baseless and a false accusation. We do not have this capability or responsibility, and we reject this claim as entirely incorrect.”

Rahimi added that the embassy provides consular services to Afghan citizens in the Netherlands under Article 2 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. He explained that the first part of these services involves establishing citizens’ identities for Dutch authorities, while the second part includes sending documents, such as powers of attorney for property management and marriage licenses, to relevant agencies like the courts through the “Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan.”

Regarding concerns about sharing information about consular applicants with the Taliban, Rahimi stated: “Based on administrative principles and consular regulations, we take the confidentiality of documents and applicants’ cases very seriously. No document or evidence can be shared without the applicant’s consent. Our compatriots should feel assured.”

The Afghan ambassador noted that the embassy had previously issued a statement emphasizing that it only engages with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan (the Taliban) concerning consular services, stating, “Without interaction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is impossible to continue providing services.” He also mentioned that the Afghan embassy is active in facilitating and coordinating international aid for the Afghan people. However, since the Netherlands does not currently recognize the “ruling authorities or caretaker government” (the Taliban regime), the embassy’s political section is “suspended.”

Rahimi urges officials from other Afghan representations to employ what he calls “diplomatic skills and political insight” in their mandates to prevent the closure of political and consular representation avenues in Afghanistan and to ensure citizens continue to receive consular services.

Addressing allegations of attempts to lift Taliban restrictions at the Hague court, he said: “Following the fall of the republic system, our relations with the Hague court have become very limited. Since the court announced it would begin investigating war crimes in Afghanistan, they have not contacted the Afghan embassy at all. I am confident that evidence and reports of war crimes and humanitarian violations are being collected independently and within their jurisdiction. According to the Rome Statute, member countries have no right to intervene in the court’s judicial proceedings, and no individual or entity can obstruct the court’s investigations.”

Rahimi expresses his support for implementing justice in national and international courts in Afghanistan and emphasizes that those who have committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, and devastated the country should one day be held accountable.