- Wednesday, May 01, 2024
The Afghan embassy in New Delhi has closed as diplomats appointed by the government in Kabul ousted by the Taliban two years ago failed to secure visa extensions from their Indian hosts, the outgoing ambassador said.
By: Shubham Ghosh
THE embassy of Afghanistan in New Delhi has shut as diplomats appointed by the previous government in Kabul ousted by the Taliban in 2021 failed to secure extensions of the visas from their Indian hosts, the outgoing ambassador said on Friday (24) in a statement.
New Delhi doesn’t recognise the Taliban government that stormed back to power two years ago following the retreat of the western forces led by the US, and had allowed ambassador Farid Mamundzay and mission staff to stay, issuing visas and handling trade-related issues.
The Afghan embassy in New Delhi has closed as diplomats appointed by the government in Kabul ousted by the Taliban two years ago failed to secure visa extensions from their Indian hosts, the outgoing ambassador said in a statement on Friday.
Press Statement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 24th November, 2023
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan announces permanent closure in New Delhi.
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in New Delhi regrets to announce the permanent closure of its 1/6 pic.twitter.com/3WXSwWhJTu— Farid Mamundzay फरीद मामुन्दजई فرید ماموندزی (@FMamundzay) November 24, 2023
diplomatic mission in New Delhi, effective from 23 November 2023, owing to persistent challenges from the Indian government.
This decision follows the embassy's earlier cessation of operations on 30th Sep 2023, a move made in the hope that the Indian government's stance 2/6— Farid Mamundzay फरीद मामुन्दजई فرید ماموندزی (@FMamundzay) November 24, 2023
would evolve favourably for the normal continuation of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in New Delhi.
Unfortunately, despite an eight-week wait, the objectives of visa extension for diplomats and a shift in the Indian government's conduct were not realised. 3/6
— Farid Mamundzay फरीद मामुन्दजई فرید ماموندزی (@FMamundzay) November 24, 2023
Given the constant pressure from both the Taliban & the Indian government to relinquish control, the embassy faced a difficult choice.
India has been a steadfast strategic partner of the erstwhile Afghan Republic since 2001, & we acknowledge the limitations & concerns that 4/6
— Farid Mamundzay फरीद मामुन्दजई فرید ماموندزی (@FMamundzay) November 24, 2023
the host country is in the best interest of Afghanistan.
In this challenging time for Afghanistan, where millions suffer because of poverty and socio-economic and political exclusion, the Embassy implores the Indian government to consider the following requests: 6/6
— Farid Mamundzay फरीद मामुन्दजई فرید ماموندزی (@FMamundzay) November 24, 2023
However, the arrangement could not be maintained for long as the envoy and senior staff left for Europe and the US to get asylum, and the embassy said it was suspending operations.
A statement from the Afghan embassy posted on X on Friday said that the period in limbo got over and it was closing down and the keys had been handed over to the host nation. It also said that pressure from both the Indian and Taliban government had forced such a decision.
In his statement, Mamundzay said, “Unfortunately, despite an eight-week wait, the objectives of visa extension for diplomats and a shift in the Indian government’s conduct were not realised.”
“Given the constant pressure from both the Taliban and the Indian government to relinquish control, the embassy faced a difficult choice,” the statement added.
The statement also said all Afghan diplomats appointed by the former Ashraf Ghani government have left India to go to some third countries and only those affiliated with the Taliban are there.
The statement did not mention the status of Afghan consulates in other Indian cities, such as Mumbai.
