New Delhi: Afghan consul generals in India — seen as the de facto “leaders” of the Afghan embassy in Delhi after a power struggle last year — met top officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Saturday. The status of a trust fund established by the two countries in 2007 as well as the situation in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan were discussed, ThePrint has learnt.
The India Afghanistan Foundation (IAF) is a fund that finances projects aimed at promoting scientific, educational, technical and cultural cooperation between the two countries. A 10-member board of directors, co-chaired by ambassadors from both countries, supervises the fund.
The discussion between Afghan Consuls General Zakia Wardak (Mumbai) and Sayed Mohammad Ibrahimkhil (Hyderabad) with J.P. Singh, joint secretary of the MEA’s PAI (Pakistan, Afghanistan & Iran) Division was about the status of the foundation and the functioning of the board, diplomatic sources told ThePrint.
Till 2020, the India Afghanistan Foundation was “properly used” but questions loom over alleged misuse of funds, the sources added.
Currently the board’s co-chair positions are vacant since India has only a technical mission in Kabul, established in mid-2022, and not an official ambassador. Meanwhile, Afghan Ambassador to India Farid Mamundzay has not been in Delhi for several months, and is currently residing in London.
Last October, Mamundzay claimed to have shut down the embassy due to “lack of support” from the host government and accused India of accommodating Taliban diplomatic representation under the “guise” of the republic.
However last November, the Afghan consuls general announced they had “assumed leadership” of the embassy.
On Saturday, Wardak posted a picture of the meeting with MEA officials on X, saying they discussed “Afghanistan and India fund”, and that the talks were “productive”.
“It was an absolute pleasure hosting Honorable JP Singh Joint secretary PAI Division, his deputy Ms. Deepti Jharwal, and Professor Abdul Khaliq Rashi at our Embassy New Delhi. Our meeting on Afghanistan and India fund was productive. Mr. Singh highlighted India’s longstanding support for Afghanistan and expressed gladness at the Embassy’s operations,” she wrote.
This came shortly after US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West’s visit to India earlier this week to discuss the situation in the Taliban-ruled country. He met Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and joint secretary Singh in Delhi.
1/2 Great to return to India and connect with close colleagues about the way ahead in Afghanistan. Spent valuable time with HE Foreign Secretary Kwatra and Joint Secretary JP Singh.
— U.S. Special Representative Thomas West (@US4AfghanPeace) March 22, 2024
“India continues to deliver critical humanitarian aid and medicine to the Afghan ppl, and we discussed 2024 needs. Also exchanged views on development of a unified diplomatic approach in support of collective interests,” he had said in a post on X.
West will travel to the UAE next with the purpose of meeting with “partners” for “collaboration in support of the Afghan people”.
These developments also come amid deteriorating ties between Pakistan and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Earlier this week, Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Khost and Paktia provinces of Afghanistan and the Taliban defence ministry said it carried out retaliatory strikes.
Shortly after, the White House urged the two sides to settle their differences, and for the Taliban to ensure that terror attacks are not launched from Afghan soil.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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