New Delhi: As the Afghanistan embassy in New Delhi emerges as the centre of a power struggle between the previous Afghan democratic government and the Taliban regime, both sides are keen for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to intervene. ThePrint, however, has learnt that this is unlikely to happen.
The Afghanistan ambassador to India, Farid Mamundzay, was chosen by the nation’s previous democratic government and presented his credentials to the Indian government in March 2021, five months before the Taliban takeover.
On 28 April this year, while the ambassador was visiting his family in London, his trade counsellor, Qadir Shah, wrote to the MEA claiming to have been appointed as charges d’affaires (CDA) of the embassy in Delhi. ThePrint has seen this email.
This “appointment” was later confirmed by Suhail Shaheen, head of Taliban’s Political Office in Doha, who called it a “rational move”, said a Times of India report.
Mamundzay returned to Delhi shortly after and, since then, Shah has not been allowed to enter the embassy premises, said diplomatic sources.
Shah attempted to enter the embassy three times, said sources, and when the embassy informed MEA about it, they were allegedly advised to let him in.
However, the embassy did not follow this advice, sources added.
On 16 May, Qadir Shah released a statement claiming he is not “affiliated” with the Taliban and accused the ambassador of “evil designs”. This is being viewed as him backtracking on his actions after failing to assume power in the embassy. Shah shared his statement with ThePrint.
Asked about Shaheen’s remarks in support of him, Shah told ThePrint: “What’s wrong in that? Our embassy is in contact with the [Taliban’s] Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We regularly receive letters from them so it is not new for them to comment on such issues”.
Sources in the Afghan embassy in Delhi confirmed to ThePrint that they do receive letters from the Taliban but these are not entertained as the embassy represents the Republic, not the Islamic Emirate.
Speaking to ThePrint, Mamundzay said, “My initial reaction (to Shah’s latest statement) was that he had failed to deliver what the Taliban expected him to deliver and now he is flailing”.
He was also curious as to why the Taliban picked Shah as a CDA among so many career diplomats already posted at the mission with “greater experience and skill”.
There are currently 10 diplomats in the Afghanistan embassy in Delhi — out of a previous 23, most of whom have fled to Canada and other countries seeking better lives.
The Taliban regime has reportedly placed its officials in 14 missions across the worlds, such as China and UAE. India has not officially recognised the Taliban regime but maintains a “technical team” in Kabul.
Both sides waiting for the MEA to intervene
Both Mamundzay and Shah communicated to ThePrint that they are waiting for the MEA to respond to the matter or issue a statement on it. According to an Indian Express report, the MEA’s silence is being interpreted as a “signal” that it is open to the idea of a Taliban-appointed diplomat.
However, diplomatic sources told ThePrint that the MEA won’t intervene as it views the issue as an “internal matter” and is expecting both sides to sort it out among themselves.
Shah told ThePrint that he is “confident” the MEA will respond to his email sent on 28 April, but MEA sources said the ministry is unlikely to respond. Diplomatic sources added that Shah is yet to return his diplomatic passport, ID and embassy-owned car following his dismissal from Mamundzay’s team.
Meanwhile, Mamundzay has told ThePrint that his embassy has shared their concerns with MEA on this issue and “are awaiting response”.
Sources added that they have been pressing the MEA to cancel Shah’s visa.
ThePrint had in January reported that Taliban was keen to post its own nominee in Delhi and Abdul Balkhi, a controversial spokesperson for the regime, was one of the names floated.
This is an updated version of the report.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)