The Afghan Embassy in New Delhi, which had previously announced its closure in October, is functioning, confirms the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday.
Responding to media questions during the weekly briefing in New Delhi, MEA official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that “the consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad too are operational.”
Does it mean India recognises the Taliban?
No.
The spokesperson stressed that India’s position on the entities has not changed.
Adding, “You can see from the flag who they represent and our position on the condition of entities has not changed. The Afghan diplomats will continue to provide services to the Afghan nationals here.”
In November, neighbouring Afghanistan announced its intention to open its embassy in India. And according to reports, Taliban-appointed Deputy Political Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, stressed, “Afghanistan is dedicated to strengthening its ties with India.” “In this regard, Afghanistan is pleased to announce its intention to open an Afghan embassy in India,” the Afghan Embassy in India posted on X (formerly Twitter).
All you want to know
The Embassy and the consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad will be run by Zakia Wardak and Sayed Mohammad Ibrahimkhil, Afghan Consuls General. They are already posted in Mumbai and Hyderabad respectively and they will also be responsible for running day-to-day operations of the Embassy in New Delhi.
Who will they report to?
According to various reports in the public domain, they will be reporting to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul, which is run by the Taliban government there.
Following the announcement regarding the closure of the Embassy permanently, the former consul generals took over the control, reopened it and restarted all the important consular departments. The work is mostly focused on granting visas to help people to people movement and also taking care of the issues related to the Afghan refugees here in India.
Though the day-to-day operations are being taken care of, it will, however, take time to resume normal operations.
Why?
The former team of diplomats’ team working previously under former Afghanistan envoy to India Farid Mamundzay has left the embassy. Reports claim that there are not enough funds to run the embassy.
It is being claimed that he did not clear dues including electricity bills as well has not paid the Indian staff for almost two months.
In an official statement issued last month announcing the reopening of the embassy Wardak and Ibrahimkhil said the embassy “continues to function as usual and that there will be no disruption in the provision of the consular services”.
And stated that they are in constant touch with MEA here in New Delhi. Sources have claimed that the Embassy has been re-opened under the directive of the Indian government to maintain `working ties’ with Kabul, which is under Taliban now.
Flag of Afghanistan
Even though the country is under the rule of the Taliban, it has the flag of the former Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and not the Islamic Emirate.
Soon after taking charge both Wardak and Ibrahimkhil met officials in the MEA dealing with Pakistan, Afghanistan and also in the Iran Division. Later they met with the Indian-based staff of the embassy and also the teachers of the now-closed Allama Syed Jamaluddin Afghan High School in Delhi. This school was forced to shut down due to lack of funds.
A post from the official X account of the Afghanistan Embassy said last month: “Taliban have now officially acknowledged the take over of the mission. We emphasize our principled stance and express gratitude to the Indian people, urging the government to support Afghan students, patients, and traders by extending visa support while.”