The embassy of Afghanistan in New Delhi has closed its doors, as diplomats appointed by the previous Afghan government, ousted by the Taliban two years ago, were unable to secure visa extensions from their Indian hosts, according to a statement by the outgoing ambassador on Friday.
India, not recognizing the Taliban government that seized power in 2021, had initially allowed Ambassador Farid Mamundzay and the mission staff to remain in their positions, handling visas and trade matters. However, in September, the ambassador and senior staff left for Europe and the US seeking asylum, leading to the suspension of embassy operations.
In a statement posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Friday, the embassy declared the end of this period of uncertainty, announcing the closure of the embassy and the surrender of keys to the host government. The statement attributed the decision to pressure from both the Indian government and the Taliban.
Ambassador Mamundzay stated in the release, “Unfortunately, despite an eight-week wait, the objectives of visa extension for diplomats and a shift in the Indian government’s conduct were not realized.” The statement added that the embassy faced a challenging choice due to constant pressure from both the Taliban and the Indian government to relinquish control.
According to the embassy’s statement, Afghan diplomats appointed by Ghani’s government in India have relocated to third countries, leaving none remaining in India. The statement also noted the presence of diplomats affiliated with the Taliban attending regular online meetings but made no mention of the status of Afghan consulates in other cities, including Mumbai.
Requests for comments from India’s foreign ministry and the Taliban-run Afghan foreign ministry went unanswered at the time of reporting.
