An overview of the establishment of Afghanistan Consulate in Mashhad and the challenges and performance of the first Afghan Consul in 1922 - 1924

During the reign of Qajar, since the War of Herat, Iran and Afghanistan as two neighboring states had severed their diplomatic relations and had no embassies and consulates in one another’s territories. Nevertheless, Afghans made endeavors to open a Consulate in Mashhad. This was only realized once Afghanistan gained independence which was recognized by Iran in 1920 and followed by opening of Afghanistan Embassy and Consulate in Tehran and Mashhad. Obstacles which hampered the development of diplomatic ties between Iran and Afghanistan in Qajar era were still in place after Afghanistan had achieved independence and the British as one of the major obstacles to establishment of Consulate and success of Consuls of Afghanistan in Mashhad. Mirza Abdollah Khan and Sardar Abdul Aziz Khan were the first Consuls General of Afghanistan who were based in Mashhad from 1922 to 1924, managing the Consulate. This paper will examine how the first Afghanistan Consulate was established in Mashhad and how the first Afghan Consuls General performed based on the existing documents and press excerpts.