Thu. Feb 13th, 2025

The Afghanistan embassy in India has suspended its operations, citing an inability to serve the country’s interests and a shortage of staff and resources. The embassy statement announced that India will assume control of the embassy in a caretaker capacity. This decision comes two years after the Taliban overthrew the elected government in Afghanistan.

Although India does not officially recognize the Taliban government, it had allowed the Afghan embassy to continue operating under the ambassador and mission staff appointed by former president Ashraf Ghani, who fled Kabul in 2021.

Earlier this year, the embassy was embroiled in a power struggle when reports surfaced that the Taliban had appointed a charge d’affaires to lead the mission, replacing Mamundzay. The embassy released a statement at the time asserting that there had been no change in its leadership.

The power struggle erupted after Qadir Shah, who had been working as a trade counselor at the embassy, claimed in April that he had been appointed as the charge d’affaires by the Taliban. However, the embassy’s closure statement refuted claims of internal strife among embassy staff and denied that any diplomats were using the crisis to seek asylum in a third country.

The embassy outlined the reasons for its closure, including a lack of support from the Indian government, which impeded their ability to fulfill their duties effectively. It also admitted to failing to serve the best interests of Afghanistan and its citizens due to a lack of diplomatic support in India and the absence of a legitimate functioning government in Kabul. Furthermore, the embassy cited a significant reduction in personnel and resources, making it challenging to continue operations.

The Indian government has not yet responded to these allegations. India has yet to officially recognize the Taliban regime and has been advocating for the formation of an inclusive government in Kabul. It has also emphasized that Afghan soil should not be used for any terrorist activities against any country.

The foreign affairs ministry is monitoring the situation and assessing the authenticity of the communication regarding the closure of the Afghanistan embassy in India.

By admin