Amid a period of uncertainty over Afghanistan’s diplomatic presence in India, a young Afghan student has been identified to serve as a diplomat at the Afghan Consulate in India. This comes as Afghan diplomats who were appointed under the former Ashraf Ghani government have left India, seeking asylum in Western countries over the past three years. The Afghan Embassy and Consulates in India have been left severely understaffed, with one lone former diplomat struggling to keep operations running, sources told ABP Live.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) took cognisance of the need for additional diplomatic staff to assist the large Afghan community residing in India, source said, adding, his affiliation will be that of an Afghan national working for Afghans in India. As regards the issue of recognition, “there is a set process for recognition of any Government and India will continue to work with the international community on this issue,” the sources said.
Sources said this was done to cater to the needs of the large Afghan community based in India, which is in need of consular services. More staff is therefore required to effectively service the Afghan nationals currently residing in India.
This decision by India comes within days after New Delhi sent a delegation to Afghanistan under JP Singh, Joint Secretary, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran Division of the MEA. This is the first time the Indian delegation met the Interim Defense Minister of Afghanistan, Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob Mujahid. Previously Singh had met the Taliban Foreign Minister and others.
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Afghan Student Turning Diplomat Spent 7 Years In India, Completed Doctorate On MEA Scholarship
The young student who agreed to take on the responsibility of facilitating consular services for Afghan nationals has spent seven years in India and completed his doctorate at South Asia University on an MEA scholarship, as per sources.
Notably, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban’s deputy foreign minister for political affairs, posted on X, “The acting consul of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the city of Mumbai, India, Mr. Dr. Hafiz Ikramuddin Kamil”.
د هندوستان هیواد په ممبۍ ښار کې د ا.ا.ا. سرپرست قونسل محترم دوکتور حافظ اکرام الدین کامل. pic.twitter.com/avMuj9o4Z2
— AKStanikzai (@AKS_400) November 11, 2024
Previously, Zakia Wardak, the seniormost Afghan diplomat in India, stepped down in May following an alleged smuggling incident at Mumbai airport.
Wardak was made the acting Ambassador of Kabul along with the Consul General of Hyderabad Sayed Mohammad Ibrahimkhil in December last year after the former Ambassador of Afghanistan to India Farid Mamundzay announced the shutting down of the Embassy in New Delhi. After Wardak was removed, Ibrahimkhil took control but it seems he also has been removed.
