NEW DELHI: The Afghan embassy in India has shut its all operations following the departure of the ambassador and other senior diplomats to Europe and the United States seeking asylum, confirmed three embassy officials on Friday.
India does not recognize the Taliban government and closed its embassy in Kabul when the Taliban took control of the country in 2021. However, New Delhi had allowed the ambassador and mission staff, appointed by the ousted Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, to continue handling visa issuance and trade-related matters.
India Takes Control of Afghan Embassy
Reportedly, at least five Afghan diplomats have left India, leaving the diplomatic compound to be taken over temporarily by the Indian government, as mentioned by one of the Afghan officials.
When asked about the situation, an official from the Indian foreign ministry in New Delhi confirmed they were reviewing the developments but provided no further details.
As of now, there has been no immediate comment from Taliban officials in Kabul.
India maintains a small mission in Kabul, along with a dozen other countries, to facilitate trade, provide humanitarian aid, and offer medical support. Bilateral trade between India and Afghanistan had reached $1.5 billion in 2019-2020 but significantly declined after the Taliban returned to power.
Earlier this month, hundreds of Afghan college students, despite the expiration of their student visas, staged a demonstration in New Delhi, appealing to the Indian government to extend their stay in India.
