New Delhi: Afghan Consul General in Mumbai Zakia Wardak Saturday announced her resignation, 10 days after she was found allegedly trying to smuggle 25 kg of gold into India from Dubai.
Diplomatic sources told ThePrint that the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi, headed by de facto Charge d’affaires (CDA) Syed Mohammad Ibrahimkhail who previously served as the consul general (Hyderabad), was not aware of Wardak’s activities “nor was it involved”.
According to sources, Wardak left India late Friday and is likely to have flown to Dubai.
On 25 April, Wardak was detained for 13 hours at Mumbai airport for allegedly smuggling gold but was released shortly after “as she had diplomatic immunity”, sources added.
Wardak is also believed to have been accompanied by her son when intercepted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at the airport.
In a statement on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) Saturday, Wardak said she decided to step down due to “personal attacks and defamation” and a “public narrative unfairly targeting the only female representative within this system”.
Statement in Dari, Pashto & English. pic.twitter.com/pQwLCMun0O
— Zakia Wardak (@ZakiaWardak) May 4, 2024
“Over the past year, I have encountered numerous personal attacks and defamation not only directed towards me but also towards my close family and extended relatives. These attacks, which appear to be organized, have severely impacted my ability to effectively operate in my role and have demonstrated the challenges faced by women in Afghan society who strive to modernize and bring positive change amidst ongoing propaganda campaigns,” she said.
Wardak was appointed by the previous government in Afghanistan as consul general in Mumbai, before the Taliban takeover of the country in August 2021.
Last November, Wardak and Ibrahimkhail announced that they had “assumed leadership” of the embassy in New Delhi hours after Ambassador Farid Mumundzay, currently in London, announced the mission’s closure. They made the announcement after holding a slew of meetings with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi.
The two consul generals urged everyone to “ignore” the “unprofessional and irresponsible communications” issued by former Afghan diplomats.
Last year, Mamundzay and the MEA made contradictory claims on whether or not the embassy had been closed. The diplomat later accused the Indian government of trying to accommodate Taliban diplomatic representation under the ‘guise’ of the republic.
In December, ThePrint reported that India does not view the Afghan embassy’s new “leaders” — Wardak and Ibrahimkhil — as aligned with the Taliban regime based on three key indicators: they are hoisting the Afghan flag; using ‘Islamic Republic’ or ‘Emirate’ in official communications and notes; and they were not appointed by the Taliban.
In her statement, Wardak concluded by saying: “I sincerely hope for a future where women in leadership roles are supported and respected, where opportunities for progress are embraced rather than met with hostility and defamation.”
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
Also Read: India doesn’t view Afghan embassy’s new ‘leaders’ as Taliban-aligned due to 3 key indicators