New Delhi: Four months after the Afghan embassy in New Delhi was embroiled in a power tussle between the previous Afghan democratic government and the Taliban regime — over the appointment of the charges d’affaires (CDA) of the embassy — a new crisis has hit the mission after 11 Indian staff were fired Friday.
These include drivers, kitchen staff, peons and others who are now planning to protest outside the embassy within the next two days, ThePrint has found. Four Afghan staff were also allegedly dismissed from service but do not plan to join the protest.
Meanwhile, corruption allegations have emerged against Afghan Ambassador to India Farid Mamundzay, who is currently in London, which he denied in a statement to ThePrint.
Sources in the Afghan embassy told ThePrint that the reason behind the mass dismissals is the embassy’s lack of funds. After the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) began funding the Afghan mission, but this allegedly stopped in May this year, the sources added.
Confirming the dismissals, Mamundzay said, “There is a lack of available funding both from Kabul and other sources. Additionally, the revenue generated by the mission is insufficient to cover all operational expenses. These factors have left us with no alternative but to implement these layoffs.”
The Indian staff claim they were sacked without notice and were denied entry into the mission Friday.
Speaking to ThePrint, an employee who claims to have worked as a driver for the embassy for almost 10 years, said, “On Friday, I was denied entry into the embassy. The guards had a list of people that were fired. We were not given one month’s notice, which is the norm.”
He added that the Indian staff who have been dismissed from service are planning to hold a protest outside the embassy premises within the next two days, demanding six months’ salary or gratuity in some form. The former employees claimed they earned an average of $350 (approximately Rs. 29,000) a month.
Sources in the Afghan mission allege that the MEA stopped funding the embassy this May, and since then salaries have been paid out of the embassy’s ‘reserves’ and funds earned by the consular office.
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Ambassador denies claims of ‘corrupt practices’
Earlier, in late April, a crisis broke out in the embassy when Mamundzay’s trade counsellor wrote to the MEA claiming to have been appointed as charges d’affaires (CDA) by the Taliban government. The “appointment” was later appreciated by Suhail Shaheen, head of the Taliban’s political office in Doha, who called it a “rational” decision.
This occurred when Mamundzay — appointed by Afghanistan’s previous democratic government — was visiting his family in London.
In May, Mamundzay returned and his trade counsellor was prohibited from entering the embassy. However, he subsequently went back to London and has not returned to India for the past three months. This recently sparked rumours that he had gone “missing”.
Sources in the Afghan embassy claim the ambassador was involved in “corrupt practices”, with regard to consignments of wheat that were sent from India as aid to Afghanistan via Pakistan last year.
After the Taliban takeover in 2021, India sent wheat and humanitarian aid to Afghanistan via Pakistan. However in March, it stopped using this land route and instead announced that it would be sending wheat through Iran’s Chabahar Port in partnership with the UN World Food Programme.
Mamdunzay denied the allegations against him in a statement to ThePrint Saturday, and suggested it is part of a broader agenda “in favour of Taliban’s motive to takeover of the mission”.
“These accusations seem to be part of a broader agenda aimed at influencing diplomatic personnel and policies in favour of Taliban’s motive to takeover of the mission. The timing raises questions about the motives behind these claims, particularly when they’re being raised after a significant period,” he said.
“The mission’s limited authority over resources and logistical matters makes it unlikely for us to engage in corrupt practices,” he added.
ThePrint asked MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi if the Indian government is investigating allegations of corruption against the ambassador, but he declined comment.
‘Sacked’ Afghan staff won’t join protest
ThePrint has also learnt that four Afghan staff — one in the consular office, two in the education and media departments and one receptionist — were allegedly also asked to leave after their shifts ended Friday.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one of the workers told ThePrint, “When my shift ended Friday around 4pm, I was fired and told to pack my belongings and leave. I was surprised as I have been working here for almost three years, and wasn’t provided any notice.”
Asked if he will be joining the protest held by his Indian colleagues, the worker added, “I won’t join their protest. I can’t be emotional about my job. It would not be appropriate”.
The 32-year-old Afghan worker added that he has been waiting for the Indian government to extend his visa for the last six months.
“I am living here on refugee status. I will probably have to look for a part-time job as a delivery agent or cab driver,” he told ThePrint.
(The name of an employee has been removed from this report on account of concerns for their safety)
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
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