Taliban Delegation in Belarus: Why Were the Photo Reports Removed?

A Taliban delegation visited a major dairy production plant during their trip to Belarus. The delegation arrived on August 21, 2026, at the Slutsk Cheese Factory in Belarus, where they were introduced to the cheese-making process and other dairy products.

Local media and some government agencies in Belarus reported on this visit and published photographs showing Taliban representatives observing the production lines and familiarizing themselves with the company’s products. During their visit, the delegation was presented with various dairy and other food products.

However, after some time, reports and photographs related to this visit were removed from several websites and social media platforms. The Belarusian authorities have not commented on the reason for the removal of these materials.

This incident has sparked considerable debate online. Some experts have noted the growing economic relations between Belarus and the Taliban, pointing out that the international community’s stance on this issue is ambiguous. Meanwhile, Taliban representatives portrayed this visit as an opportunity to learn about the country’s economy and production technologies.

Since taking power in Afghanistan, the Taliban have aimed to establish trade and economic relations with various countries around the world, although most nations still do not recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan.

This is not the first instance of a Taliban government delegation’s visit to other countries becoming controversial. Previously, a visit by a Taliban government delegation to the Republic of Moldova sparked political disputes and widespread criticism in that country.

According to Moldovan media, in early August 2026, a delegation consisting of three representatives from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Agriculture arrived in Chișinău. In a statement, the Taliban’s Ministry of Agriculture announced that the delegation was visiting the country at the invitation of Moldova’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, with the main goal of discussing cooperation opportunities in agriculture, attracting investments, and developing exports of agricultural products from Afghanistan.

However, the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected these claims, stating that no official meetings were organized for the Taliban representatives with government officials. The ministry also emphasized that the issue of visa issuance for the Taliban delegation and the conditions for organizing this trip are under review.