The Afghan Embassy says it’s permanently closing in New Delhi over challenges from India

The Embassy of Afghanistan in New Delhi has announced its permanent closure, citing ongoing difficulties with the Indian government and the lack of diplomatic support. This closure, effective from Thursday, follows an earlier decision to halt operations from October 1 due to the absence of an internationally recognized government in Kabul. Initially, the embassy had planned to continue offering emergency consular services for Afghan citizens.

Previously, the embassy had hoped that the stance of the Indian government would shift positively, allowing the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in New Delhi to operate normally. However, in the subsequent eight weeks, the embassy confronted a challenging situation, facing continuous pressure from both the Taliban and the Indian government, which ultimately led to the decision to close.

The Indian External Affairs Ministry has not issued a statement regarding this development. India has withheld recognition of the Taliban regime, which came into power in Afghanistan in August 2021. Following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan two years ago, India evacuated its diplomatic staff from Kabul and has since maintained no diplomatic presence in Afghanistan. India’s position on recognizing the Taliban government aligns with that of the United Nations.

Previously, the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi operated under the authorization of the Indian government, with staff appointed by the former Afghan government led by President Ashraf Ghani.

In its latest statement, the embassy disclosed that there are currently no diplomats from the Afghan Republic in India. The personnel who served at the embassy have safely relocated to third countries. The statement also noted that the remaining diplomats in India are affiliated with the Taliban, and the embassy premises have been transferred to the Indian government’s control. The decision on whether to keep the embassy closed or explore other options, such as transferring it to Taliban-affiliated diplomats, now lies with the Indian government.

According to the U.N. refugee agency, Afghans represent about one-third of the nearly 40,000 refugees registered in India, not counting those registered through other organizations. The embassy noted a significant decline in the Afghan community in India over the past two years, with refugees, students, and others leaving the country. Since August 2021, the Afghan population in India has almost halved, and visa issuance during this period was severely limited.

In 2022, India extended humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, including wheat, medicine, COVID-19 vaccines, and winter clothing, to support the struggling Afghan economy ravaged by conflict and on the brink of collapse.

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• Afghan Embassy Closure in New Delhi
• India’s Stance on Taliban Government
• Afghan Diplomatic Staff Relocation
• India’s Humanitarian Aid to Afghanistan
• Decline of Afghan Community in India