New Delhi: The fight over control of the Afghan embassy in New Delhi has come into the open.
Afghan diplomats issued a statement on Monday on the official letterhead claiming that they have resisted attempts for a Taliban-appointed official to take over.
The Wire had reported earlier that the Taliban’s foreign ministry had issued a letter directing another official in the embassy, Mohammad Qadir Shah, to take over the charge of the embassy in New Delhi.
The matter first came to light through Afghan media reports about the letter. There was also another unsigned letter published by Tolo News from “Afghan refugees” in India putting allegations of corruption against Ambassador Farid Mamundzay, which led to a statement on Sunday denying unnamed “media rumours”.
A fresh statement issued on Monday directly addressed the reports about the replacement of Mamundzay, admitting that that there was an attempt to take over control of the embassy.
“The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan categorically rejects the claims from an individual claiming to have taken charge of the mission in New Delhi at the behest of the Taliban,” said the press note.
The press note issued by the Afghan embassy on Monday.
The statement also thanked the Indian government for its “consistent position” on supporting Afghan people, while “at the same time not recognizing the Taliban regime in Kabul, as it has been the case with democratic governments around the world”.
India has not issued any response publicly, but it is understood that New Delhi is not going to interfere in the matter and leave it for the two sides to “sort it out”.
Further, the statement claimed that Qadir Shah was “running a baseless and unsubstantiated campaign against officials of the mission, including totally fabricated allegations of corruption based on an unsigned letter”.
It added that the diplomatic mission continues “functioning as normal and working for their interests in India”.
Diplomatic sources have told The Wire that Qadir Shah has not been allowed entry into the embassy, while Mamundzay remains in the office building. There has been no response from Qadir Shah, so far.
India, just like the rest of the international community, does not recognise the Taliban regime. Therefore, it has always recognised Mamundzay as the official diplomatic representative even after the collapse of the Republic in August 2020. At the same time, it has attempted to have a functional relationship with the Taliban by basing a ‘technical team’ of diplomats in Kabul.
While no government has recognised the Taliban, several countries, including China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran and some Central Asian countries, have allowed the regime to appoint their officials to diplomatic missions. The host nation has a more involved role as they would have to give a visa to the appointed official. But in this case, the official who has been appointed by the Taliban has already been in India for years.
