Afghan Embassy in India closed, New Delhi investigating the matter - Sources

The Afghan Embassy in India has reportedly issued a letter to close its operations and New Delhi is investigating its authenticity. This information has been revealed by sources.

According to information received by news agency PTI, the embassy is headed by Ambassador Farid Mamundze and it is learned that he is currently in London. Mamundje was appointed by the previous Ashraf Ghani government and continues to serve as the Afghan envoy after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021.

On reports of the embassy closing its operations, Indian government sources said the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi has reportedly issued a communication on the issue.

The authenticity of the communication and its contents are being investigated, one of the sources said.

This is in the context of the ambassador being out of India for the past several months, the frequent visits of diplomats to third countries allegedly after being granted asylum, and reports of infighting among embassy personnel, the source said.

It is learned that the embassy has sent a message to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on its decision to cease operations in the next few days. There was no immediate reaction from the embassy on this matter.

In April–May, the embassy was rocked by a power struggle in the wake of reports that the Taliban had appointed a chargé d'affaires to lead the mission in place of Mamundze. Following the episode, the embassy issued a statement saying there had been no changes in its leadership.

The struggle for power began when Qadir Shah, who had been working as a trade councilor at the embassy since 2020, wrote to the Foreign Ministry in late April claiming that he had been replaced by the Taliban as charge d'affaires at the embassy. Was appointed in.

India has not yet recognized the establishment of the Taliban and is advocating the formation of an inclusive government in Kabul, besides insisting that Afghan soil should not be used for terrorist activities against any country. should go.