Afghanistan closes embassy in India citing lack of diplomatic support

[HAIDER]

Afghanistan closes embassy in India citing lack of diplomatic support​

The move comes due to lack of support from India and increasingly challenging conditions to operate, the embassy says.

A cyclist pedals past the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi [Altaf Qadri/AP Photo]
Published On 1 Oct 20231 Oct 2023

The embassy of Afghanistan in India, which owed its allegiance to the former West-backed government, has announced its closure, saying it would cease operations starting from October 1.
The Afghan embassy’s statement on Saturday said it wanted to reach an agreement with the Indian government to ensure that the interests of Afghans living, working, studying and doing business in India are safeguarded.

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Afghans account for around one-third of the nearly 40,000 refugees registered in India, according to the United Nations’ refugee agency. But that figure excludes those who are not registered with the UN.
“There has been a significant reduction in both personnel and resources available to us, making it increasingly challenging to continue operations,” the statement said.
The closure comes more than two years after the Taliban government stormed back to power triggering the collapse of the government of President Ashraf Ghani in the wake of the US withdrawing its troops after 20 years of war and occupation.
“It is with profound sadness, regret, and disappointment that the Embassy of Afghanistan in New Delhi announces this decision to cease its operations,” the embassy said.
The decision was taken due to lack of “crucial support” from India which has hampered the embassy’s capacity to carry out the embassy’s duties, read the statement.
There were also shortcomings in meeting the expectations to best serve Afghani citizens due to “the absence of a legitimate functioning government in Kabul”, read the statement, referring to the Taliban administration.
AD

The closure follows reports that the ambassador and other senior diplomats had left India in recent months, with infighting among those remaining in New Delhi. But the embassy rejected speculations regarding internal infighting among its staff, stressing that these were “unfounded” rumours.
India will take control of the embassy in a caretaker capacity, it said.

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At the time of publication, India’s foreign ministry did not issue any statement in response to the announcement.


No country officially recognises Afghanistan’s new government, but acknowledge the Taliban as the de facto ruling authority.
This has left many Afghan embassies and consulates in limbo, with diplomats appointed by the former government refusing to cede control of embassy buildings and property to representatives chosen by the Taliban authorities.
AD

India has not recognised the Taliban government, which seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021. It evacuated its own staff from Kabul ahead of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan two years ago and no longer has a diplomatic presence there.
Yet, New Delhi is keen to retain ties with the country where its regional rival Pakistan wields considerable influence. Indian envoys have previously met Taliban representatives in Doha, the capital of Qatar, where the group has an office.
Last year, India sent relief materials, including wheat, medicine, COVID-19 vaccines and winter clothes to Afghanistan to help with shortages there.
In June last year, India sent a team of officials to its embassy in Kabul.
Before the Taliban took control, India provided Afghan security forces with training and military equipment but had no troops on the ground. It was also the region’s largest provider of development aid to Afghanistan.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1708189818516119651

 

[my2cents]

Talibani leaders are not going anywhere. We have to work with them.

 

[Titanium100]

What Afghan regime? These guys are in the past. For one India did the right thing. Why would India host a regime that was toppled almost 3 years ago. It is basically like hosting the Roman empires embassy in this age and time it is a long run regime and the same with Ghani's regime

 

[Kharral]

Talibani leaders are not going anywhere. We have to work with them.

Weren’t they the worst kind of terrorists whose complete annihilation was supported by your people and governments alike for over a couple of decades ?

 

[epebble]

Weren’t they the worst kind of terrorists whose complete annihilation was supported by your people and governments alike for over a couple of decades ?

But using Machiavellian mechanics, they have metamorphosized into good terrorists. So, they should be loved and supported.

 

[TriptiD]

The decision was taken due to lack of “crucial support” from India which has hampered the embassy’s capacity to carry out the embassy’s duties, read the statement.

What support were they expecting? Except in exceptional circumstances, no country is going to pay the maintenance cost of hosting another country's embassy.

There were also shortcomings in meeting the expectations to best serve Afghani citizens due to “the absence of a legitimate functioning government in Kabul”, read the statement, referring to the Taliban administration.
AD

This is the crux of the matter. The embassy cannot provide any consular services to Afghan citizens and cannot issue visas to foreigners. It is not even clear who represents the old regime now and what interests the embassy was representing.

The closure follows reports that the ambassador and other senior diplomats had left India in recent months, with infighting among those remaining in New Delhi. But the embassy rejected speculations regarding internal infighting among its staff, stressing that these were “unfounded” rumours.
India will take control of the embassy in a caretaker capacity, it said.

It was ultimately all about money. The embassy is located in a prime location in New Delhi and accredited diplomats enjoy a privileged lifestyle. The embassy could not generate the funds to support it and was expecting the Indian government to support them indefinitely even after having become completely irrelevant. Even if India wanted to provide aid to the resistance against the Taliban, maintaining a dinosaur embassy in New Delhi is an absolute waste of money.

 

[Clutch]

Afghanistan closes embassy in India citing lack of diplomatic support​

The move comes due to lack of support from India and increasingly challenging conditions to operate, the embassy says.

A cyclist pedals past the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi [Altaf Qadri/AP Photo]
Published On 1 Oct 20231 Oct 2023

The embassy of Afghanistan in India, which owed its allegiance to the former West-backed government, has announced its closure, saying it would cease operations starting from October 1.
The Afghan embassy’s statement on Saturday said it wanted to reach an agreement with the Indian government to ensure that the interests of Afghans living, working, studying and doing business in India are safeguarded.

KEEP READING​

list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3

Taliban Palace: The second year of Taliban rule in Afghanistan​

list 2 of 3

Taliban marks two years since return to power in Afghanistan​

list 3 of 3

Afghan activist challenges Taliban spokesman on girls’ education​

end of list
Afghans account for around one-third of the nearly 40,000 refugees registered in India, according to the United Nations’ refugee agency. But that figure excludes those who are not registered with the UN.
“There has been a significant reduction in both personnel and resources available to us, making it increasingly challenging to continue operations,” the statement said.
The closure comes more than two years after the Taliban government stormed back to power triggering the collapse of the government of President Ashraf Ghani in the wake of the US withdrawing its troops after 20 years of war and occupation.
“It is with profound sadness, regret, and disappointment that the Embassy of Afghanistan in New Delhi announces this decision to cease its operations,” the embassy said.
The decision was taken due to lack of “crucial support” from India which has hampered the embassy’s capacity to carry out the embassy’s duties, read the statement.
There were also shortcomings in meeting the expectations to best serve Afghani citizens due to “the absence of a legitimate functioning government in Kabul”, read the statement, referring to the Taliban administration.
AD

The closure follows reports that the ambassador and other senior diplomats had left India in recent months, with infighting among those remaining in New Delhi. But the embassy rejected speculations regarding internal infighting among its staff, stressing that these were “unfounded” rumours.
India will take control of the embassy in a caretaker capacity, it said.

Sign up for Al Jazeera​

Week in the Middle East​

Catch up on our coverage of the region, all in one place.
Sign up

By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy
At the time of publication, India’s foreign ministry did not issue any statement in response to the announcement.


No country officially recognises Afghanistan’s new government, but acknowledge the Taliban as the de facto ruling authority.
This has left many Afghan embassies and consulates in limbo, with diplomats appointed by the former government refusing to cede control of embassy buildings and property to representatives chosen by the Taliban authorities.
AD

India has not recognised the Taliban government, which seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021. It evacuated its own staff from Kabul ahead of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan two years ago and no longer has a diplomatic presence there.
Yet, New Delhi is keen to retain ties with the country where its regional rival Pakistan wields considerable influence. Indian envoys have previously met Taliban representatives in Doha, the capital of Qatar, where the group has an office.
Last year, India sent relief materials, including wheat, medicine, COVID-19 vaccines and winter clothes to Afghanistan to help with shortages there.
In June last year, India sent a team of officials to its embassy in Kabul.
Before the Taliban took control, India provided Afghan security forces with training and military equipment but had no troops on the ground. It was also the region’s largest provider of development aid to Afghanistan.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1708189818516119651

I.e. no $$$$$

 

[MastanKhan]

But using Machiavellian mechanics, they have metamorphosized into good terrorists. So, they should be loved and supported.

Hi,

Just like the US does---.

Vietnam is being offered F-16's----.

We all learn from USA---.

 

[prashantazazel]

Weren’t they the worst kind of terrorists whose complete annihilation was supported by your people and governments alike for over a couple of decades ?

They are hated by most Indian people. Indian government might find some use for them, maybe.

And any money is good money(trade.)

 

[epebble]

Hi,

Just like the US does---.

Vietnam is being offered F016's----.

We all learn from USA---.

Small difference. U.S. was fighting with South Vietnam against North Vietnam. After the war, Vietnam is no longer an enemy, just like Germany and Japan. U.K. and Germany were enemies once, not anymore. Long back, U.K. and France were enemies too.

 

[Hakikat ve Hikmet]

An effect of the increasing Chinese presence in Afganistan. India is being cut-off from the CA....

 

[ARMalik]

Weren’t they the worst kind of terrorists whose complete annihilation was supported by your people and governments alike for over a couple of decades ?

I think India has come to realise that the actual terrorists sit in the GHQ and not in A-Stan.

 

[MastanKhan]

Small difference. U.S. was fighting with South Vietnam against North Vietnam. After the war, Vietnam is no longer an enemy, just like Germany and Japan. U.K. and Germany were enemies once, not anymore. Long back, U.K. and France were enemies too.

Hi,

Germans are modern day slaves of the americans---just like the japanese are---. Two nations who used to be proud nations---are now leading in servitude.

Vietnam was never the enemy---it was the US that was the enemy---vietnamese did nothing to the americans that deserved their destruction.

Now the US is preparing them to take the brunt of the chinese strike---what big fools---the vietnames---the philipinos---.

 

[HAIDER]

Increasing Chinese regional and economic influence. Only the Chinese embassy is fully functional in Kabul.

 

[my2cents]

Weren’t they the worst kind of terrorists whose complete annihilation was supported by your people and governments alike for over a couple of decades ?

We did not support the Nato war. We did not give any airbases to US. We did not take any money from US. At the same time we did not support Talibani leaders because they were not people representatives. They came to power with brute force.