NEW DELHI: The Afghan embassy in New Delhi is functional, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.
MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at his weekly media briefing that the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi and the consulates in Hyderabad and Mumbai are functional.
You can see from the flag who they represent and our position on the entities’ condition has not changed, the spokesman said, clearly indicating that the embassy represents the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and not the current Taliban administration.
He was asked whether the diplomats operating the embassy represented the previous Afghan government or the Taliban administration.
He said the Afghan envoys will continue to provide services to the Afghan citizens in Delhi.
India has not yet recognized the Taliban government and has been pitching for the formation of an inclusive government in Kabul besides insisting that Afghanistan must not be used for any terrorist activities against any nation.
Afghan embassy’s closure
The embassy, under the control of Ambassador Farid Mamundzay, in November, announced its permanent closure, citing persistent challenges from the Indian government.
It is learnt that Mamundzay’s announcement of the closure of the embassy was more to do with internal power struggle and the departure of nearly twenty diplomats from India seeking asylum in the West.
Mamundzay has been in London since June.
