The Indian government is investigating reports of closure of Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi, after a note verbale purportedly from the diplomatic mission said that it would be closing down operations by the end of September.
Indian government sources have said that the “authenticity” of the communication and the contents of the note verbale are being “examined”.
“This is in the context of the Ambassador being out of India for past many months, steady departure of diplomats to third countries reportedly after receiving asylum as well as reports of infighting amongst Embassy personnel,” sources said.
Sources in the Afghanistan Embassy have confirmed to Sputnik India that the current Ambassador Farid Mamundzay has been out of India for the last few months.
Mamundzay is an appointee of the previous Ashraf Ghani government which was toppled by the Taliban in August 2021. He has been highly critical of the Taliban government in Kabul during his diplomatic tenure in India.
What Does the Purported Communication from the Afghanistan Embassy Say?
The reported letter from the Afghan Embassy cites at least 10 instances over the last six months when “no support was extended to legitimate requests from the embassy”.
It says that the Afghan Embassy couldn’t issue visas to Afghan students in India or to Afghans seeking medical treatment in India.
Further, the purported note from the Embassy claims that the Afghan mission’s significance has been “systematically diminished” since the re-opening of the Indian Embassy in Kabul in June 2022.
While New Delhi is yet to appoint a full-fledged ambassador to Kabul in the wake of the Taliban takeover, it has maintained a functioning embassy in the Afghan capital.
The note “earnestly implores” the government of India to ensure “safekeeping of embassy and assets” till a “legitimate government duly elected by the Afghan people” comes to power in Kabul.
New Delhi has consistently maintained that its approach towards Afghanistan continues to be driven by people-to-people linkages.
"Our common and immediate priorities include providing humanitarian assistance for the Afghan people; formation of inclusive and representative government structure; combating terrorism and drug trafficking; and preserving the rights of women, children, and minorities," the Indian Ambassador to UN, Ruchira Kamboj, told a UN Security Council debate on Afghanistan this week.
*under UN sanctions