New Delhi: India does not view the Afghan embassy’s new “leaders” — Consuls General Zakia Wardak (Mumbai) and Sayed Mohammad Ibrahimkhil (Hyderabad) — as aligned with the Taliban regime on the basis of three key indicators, ThePrint has learnt.
This comes despite Taliban-appointed acting deputy foreign minister Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai saying he is in close contact with the two diplomats and Ibrahimkhail’s attendance at Zoom meetings arranged by the Taliban’s acting foreign ministry, according to screenshots shared online.
With Afghan Ambassador Farid Mamundzay in the UK for the past few months, Zakia and Wardak have assumed leadership of the embassy, after holding a slew of meetings with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi.
On 24 November, Wardak posted a statement on X saying she and Ibrahimkhil had “assumed the leadership of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, New Delhi”.
Press Statement by the consul general of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Mumbai and Acting Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Hyderabad regards closing of Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi- India pic.twitter.com/HmCZcIaBFE
— Zakia Wardak (@ZakiaWardak) November 24, 2023
Arguing that the two consuls general are not aligned with the Taliban regime, people familiar with the matter cited three indicators: 1) they are hoisting the Afghan flag, 2) using ‘Islamic Republic’ or ‘Emirate’ in official communications and notes verbales and 3) they were not appointed by the Taliban.
Asked if violation of these indicators would amount to crossing a “red line” for India, the sources did not provide a clear answer.
The two consul generals have satisfied the three indicators thus far.
They continue to hoist the flag of the Afghan republic, having raised the tri-coloured flag at the Afghan embassy in Delhi Friday as a symbol of renewed commitment to serving Afghan nationals in India.
Their press statements and notes verbales to the MEA have also carried the stamp of “Islamic Republic” and not “Islamic Emirate” of Afghanistan.
The two were also appointed by the previous democratic government in Afghanistan, and had already been serving in India years before the 2021 Taliban takeover.
There are currently four-five Afghan diplomats in India, including the two consuls general. There are a large number of service passport holders and local Afghan staff working for the two consulates in Hyderabad and Mumbai but it is uncertain whether some will be transferred to work in the embassy in Delhi.
The embassy was previously run by 28 Afghan diplomats. Nearly all have taken asylum abroad, with the last one departing India earlier this week.
‘India dealing with unique situation’
In an interview to ThePrint in October, Afghan Ambassador Farid Mamdunzay had alleged that India was accommodating Taliban diplomatic representation under the “guise” of the republic. Asked why, he said this served a dual purpose: to “appease” domestic stakeholders and to meet the Taliban’s demands for reciprocal cooperation.
India has not officially recognised the Taliban regime, but continues to actively engage with it. It has maintained a “technical mission” in Kabul since June 2022.
India’s technical mission in Kabul is “safe” and functioning properly with its own security contingent. The international community, including India, is engaging with the Taliban despite the lack of formal bilateral relations.
Also read: 2 yrs of Taliban in Afghanistan — ways ‘Taliban 2.0’ is different, and not so different after all