The Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi has announced its permanent closure

The Afghan Embassy in India said on Friday that it will be closing permanently due to “persistent challenges from the Indian government.”

This follows the announcement on September 30 by the Afghanistan Embassy that it would be closing as of October 1. The mission then reported on many issues, including decreased manpower and resources, a lack of cooperation from the host government, and a failure to live up to expectations in advancing Afghanistan’s interests.

The Embassy expressed disappointment in a statement released on Friday, saying that it had to announce the permanent closure of its diplomatic presence in New Delhi, which would take effect on November 23, “due to persistent challenges from the Indian government.”

The statement said that this decision came after the embassy’s last shutdown on September 30, 2023, and that it was done in the hopes that the Indian government’s position would change in a way that would allow the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s Embassy in New Delhi to continue operating normally.

Sadly, the goals of extending diplomatic visas and changing the behavior of the Indian government were not met, the Afghan embassy said, even after an eight-week delay.

The statement said, “The embassy faced a difficult choice given the constant pressure to relinquish control from both the Taliban and the Indian government.”

The envoy emphasized that as of the present, no Afghan Republic officials are still in India.

It said that those who worked for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s Embassy had safely arrived in other nations.

It said that the only people in India are Taliban-affiliated diplomats who are clearly present at their frequent internet gatherings.

The mission said that the Afghan Republic’s ambassadors had turned the mission over to the Indian government alone.

“The Indian government must now choose what will happen to the mission: will it remain closed or look at other options, such as giving it to Taliban ‘diplomats’? It said that the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s ambassadors are no longer formally under contract.

According to the statement, the Afghan Republic in India has come to a tragic end with the Republic mission’s termination.

“We have carefully weighed the historical occurrences and the present situation before coming to this determination. According to the statement, “We also extend their sincere gratitude to the people of India for their support and assistance to Afghanistan over the past 22 years.”

As to the statement released by the Afghan Embassy, India has been a reliable and strategic friend of the former Afghan Republic since 2001. They also acknowledged the challenges and worries that come with realpolitik and the need to strike a balance during a challenging period in a strategically significant area.

The mission said, “Therefore, we firmly believe that it is in the best interest of Afghanistan to close the mission in India at this stage and to transfer the custodial authority of the mission to the host country.”

The Embassy also urged the Ministry of External Affairs to fulfill its obligations and responsibilities regarding assuming custodial responsibility of the Afghan diplomatic mission properties, bank accounts, vehicles, and all other assets located in New Delhi on an urgent basis, citing the “challenging time for Afghanistan, where millions suffer because of poverty and socio-economic and political exclusion” (Article 45).

The statement said, “A comprehensive list of assets, spanning 110 pages, has already been shared with the Ministry of External Affairs, including details of approximately $500,000 in the mission’s bank accounts.”

In keeping with the demands of the Afghan people, the mission has asked the Indian government for permission to fly Afghanistan’s tricolour over its grounds during this time.

For millions of Afghans worldwide, it represents honor, pride, sacrifice, and self-determination, according to the statement.

“Finally, we humbly request that the Ministry of External Affairs guarantee the protection of the Embassy’s property and assets, knowing that they will eventually be given to a lawful, responsible government that has been duly elected or selected by the Afghan people,” the mission said.

The embassy also said that while it is aware that some may try to paint this action as the consequence of an internal dispute involving diplomats who defected to the Taliban, it emphasizes that this choice is the outcome of more significant shifts in priorities and policy.

We would like to express our profound appreciation to the Afghan residents of India for their cooperation and understanding during the course of our assignment. It said, “We have worked tirelessly for their betterment and in the absence of a legitimate government in Kabul, despite limitations in resources and power.”

It said that regrettably, attempts have been made to damage our reputation and obstruct diplomatic operations in order to defend the employment and presence of diplomats nominated by and linked with the Taliban.

Farid Mamundzay has been the ambassador to this country. Mamundzay served as the Afghan ambassador even after the Taliban took over the country in August 2021; he was chosen by the previous Ashraf Ghani administration.

A power struggle shook the embassy in April and May when rumors circulated that the Taliban had appointed a charge d’affaires to take Mamundzay’s place as mission leader. The embassy released a statement after the incident stating that its leadership remained the same.

In addition to maintaining that no terrorist attack against any nation may be carried out on Afghan territory, India has been advocating for the establishment of a genuinely inclusive government in Kabul and has refused to acknowledge the Taliban regime.