New Delhi: The Afghanistan mission in New Delhi will resume activities in the next “two to three days”, Taliban-appointed acting deputy foreign minister Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai said Wednesday in an interview with local broadcaster RTA.
Stanikzai noted that the embassy is in close contact with the Taliban-controlled foreign ministry and that the Afghan consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad are active, and in touch with him.
The Taliban-controlled country, he said, wants good ties with all nations, especially its neighbours.
Stanikzai’s remarks come amid a controversy over the control of the Afghan embassy in Delhi that has been brewing since the Taliban seized power in the nation in August 2021. The mission had been under the control of Farid Mamundzay, the envoy to India appointed under the previous democratic administration, so far.
On Friday, Mamundzay had announced the “permanent closure” of the New Delhi mission, alleging efforts to tarnish its image and “hinder diplomatic efforts in order to justify the presence and work of Taliban-appointed and affiliated diplomats”.
Hours later, Zakia Wardak, the consul general in Mumbai, and Sayed Mohammad Ibrahimkhil, the acting consul general in Hyderabad, declared their “joint leadership” of the mission and urged everyone to “ignore” the “unprofessional” communications by the former Afghan diplomats.
Stanikzai said the embassy was closed due to issues with the Indian government over visa extensions for Afghan diplomats. Despite these challenges, he added, the Taliban aims to restore full diplomatic representation at the mission soon.
Reached for comment, Mamundzay, who is now in the UK, said he had “consistently emphasised that the ties between the Taliban and the current Indian government have intensified, notably since December 2022”.
“This relationship appears driven by mutual self-interest, with the Taliban seeking Delhi’s support for geopolitical balancing, economic assistance, and recognition, while Delhi values the Taliban’s support for security and regional cooperation, albeit and sadly at the expense of moral and principled considerations,” he added.
India values the Taliban’s support in the region geo-political context of competing with China, he said.
ThePrint has texted the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson for a comment but a response is awaited.
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Months-long controversy
The controversy regarding the embassy first began in May when the Taliban appointed trade counsellor Qadir Shah as charge d’affaires. Shah attempted to take over the embassy in Mamundzay’s absence but failed, and was later “banned from entering the premises” while it was under the latter’s leadership.
Mamundzay had first announced the closure of the Afghanistan embassy in New Delhi on 1 October citing a lack of support from the host government, among other reasons.
This came soon after the mission sacked its local staff in September.
The Afghan consul generals had then “disavowed” the ambassador’s statement on embassy closure and held extensive meetings with MEA officials.
On Saturday, the Afghan mission stated that “as of 23 November, there is no Afghan diplomat representing the former Republic in India”.
While announcing the shutdown of the mission, the embassy also requested the MEA to assume custodial responsibility of the diplomatic mission’s properties, vehicles and $500,000 in its bank accounts.
Mamundzay had Saturday accused the consul generals of disregarding Afghan suffering, moonlighting at Taliban meetings, and “taking cues from a group with Indian blood on their hands”.
In the interview, Stanikzai also urged the United Nations to hand over Afghanistan’s seat to the Taliban-ruled Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, calling for its representatives to be invited to meetings held about the country. The Taliban administration in Afghanistan has yet to receive international recognition.
Inputs from Pia Krishnankutty
(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)
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