Afghan Embassy in India Reopened, Say Consuls

The Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi was reopened by the two top Consuls of Afghanistan in India on Thursday.

The acting Consul General of Afghanistan in Mumbai, Sayed Mohammad Ibrahimkhil, said in a video that he and the Consul General of Afghanistan in Hyderabad, Zakia Wardak, have taken the responsibility for the consulate services of Afghanistan’s embassy in New Delhi based on requests of the Indian government.

“After we arrived at the Ministry of External Affairs [of India], they said that they had promised two months ago that the embassy of Afghanistan in New Delhi would not be closed. They [Indian officials] asked us to take charge of consulate services of the embassy,” Ibrahimkhail said.

Earlier, the Afghan embassy announced in a statement the permanent closing of its diplomatic mission in New Delhi, effective Nov 23, owing to “persistent challenges from the Indian government.”

The Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said that there has been a breakthrough in addressing the problems of the Afghan embassy in India.

“There has been some breakthroughs but due to the political circumstances it is not good to announce now but some steps will be made and then the Foreign Ministry will announce it,” Mujahid said.

Some former Afghan diplomats said that the reopening of the embassy will play an effective role in addressing problems of Afghans in India.

“There should be a relationship so that India will not be away from regional and Afghanistan issues. This also benefits Afghanistan, Afghan refugees and the Afghan traders,” said Aziz Maarij, a former diplomat.

“The Indians are trying to continue their presence in Afghanistan and extend their engagement with the Taliban,” said Noorullah Raghi, a former diplomat.

Earlier, the deputy Foreign Minister, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, also stressed that the Afghan consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad cities of India are active.