New Delhi: In a statement released on Saturday, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan announced that it would cease operations in India as of Sunday. “It is with profound sadness, regret, and disappointment that the Embassy of Afghanistan in New Delhi announces this decision to cease its operations,” the statement said.
Afghan Embassy Highlights Lack of Host Government Support
The official statement stated, “The embassy has experienced a notable absence of crucial support from the host government, which has hindered our ability to carry out our duties effectively.” It cited the lack of support from the host government and the failure to live up to expectations in serving “Afghanistan’s interests”. The embassy stated that although this decision is disappointing, it was reached after due study and took into account the long-standing relationship and historical links between Afghanistan and India.
Afghan Embassy Questions Legitimacy of Kabul Administration
The embassy claimed that there is no “legitimate” functioning administration in Kabul and that there is a lack of diplomatic backing from India. The Afghan Embassy mentioned difficulties like a staffing and resource constraint in its announcement to stop operations in India. “The lack of timely and sufficient support from visa renewal for diplomats to other critical areas of cooperation led to an understandable frustration among our team and impeded our ability to carry out routine duties effectively,” the statement read.
Emergency Consular Services to Persist During Afghan Embassy Transition
The statement continued, “Emergency consular services for Afghan citizens will continue to be available up until the transfer of the custodial authority of the embassy to the host country.” Three embassy officials told news agency Reuters on Friday that the event happened after the ambassador and several top diplomats of the Afghan embassy left India for Europe and were granted asylum in the United States. The embassy officials said that at least five Afghan diplomats have departed India. According to the embassy, its decision to cease operations in New Delhi had already been communicated to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). “This communication accurately represents our decision-making process and the factors leading to the closure,” it said.
Afghan Embassy Seeks Safeguarding Afghan Activities in India
Additionally, it asked the government to protect the rights of Afghans who live, work, study, trade, and participate in a variety of other activities in India. The embassy further denied any “baseless claims” of internal conflict or dissension among its diplomatic personnel or of any diplomats taking advantage of the crisis to apply for refuge in an other nation. “Such rumours are unfounded and do not reflect the reality of our mission. We remain a united team working towards the best interests of Afghanistan,” the embassy said. After the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021, India closed its embassy there. However, New Delhi gave permission to Ashraf Ghani, the deposed Afghan president, and the mission personnel to issue visas and manage trade concerns in India.
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