Afghan Embassy in India Shuts Down Operations

The Afghanistan Embassy has announced that it is closing its operations from Sunday. In a statement, the Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi said it regrets the decision to cease its operations, effective October 1, 2023. “It is with profound sadness, regret, and disappointment that the Embassy of Afghanistan in New Delhi announces this decision to cease its operations,” the statement said.

The Afghan mission said that this decision was made after careful consideration, taking into account the historic ties and long-standing partnership between Afghanistan and India. The reduction of personnel and resources and lack of support from the host government were among the reasons cited for its inability to run the mission effectively.

This closure comes as India is yet to recognise the Taliban and has been pitching for an inclusive government in Afghanistan, besides insisting that Afghan soil must not be used for any terrorist activities against any country.

In the three-page statement, the mission cited “failure to meet expectations in serving Afghanistan’s interests” as one of the reasons. “We acknowledge our shortcomings in meeting the expectations and requirements necessary to serve the best interests of Afghanistan and its citizens due to the lack of diplomatic support in India and the absence of a legitimate functioning government in Kabul,” the mission said.

It also said that due to unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances, there has been a significant reduction in both personnel and resources available to it, making it increasingly challenging to continue operations. “The lack of timely and sufficient support from visa renewal for diplomats to other critical areas of cooperation led to an understandable frustration among our team and impeded our ability to carry out routine duties effectively,” the statement said.

Given these circumstances, “it is with deep regret that we have taken the difficult decision to close all operations of the mission with the exception of emergency consular services to Afghan citizens till the transfer of the custodial authority of the mission to the host country,” it said. The embassy, headed by Ambassador Farid Mamundzay, also denied reports about internal strife or discord amongst its diplomatic staff or any diplomats.

Mamundzay was appointed by the Ashraf Ghani government and he has been operating as the Afghan envoy even after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021. In April-May, the embassy was rocked by a power struggle in the wake of reports of the Taliban appointing a charge d’affaires to head the mission, replacing Mamundzay.

After the episode, the embassy issued a statement that there was no change in its leadership. The power struggle erupted after Qadir Shah, who was working as a trade councillor at the embassy since 2020, wrote to the MEA in late April claiming that he was appointed as the charge d’affaires at the embassy by the Taliban.

(With agency inputs)