INDIA NOT ACCEPTING TALIBAN APPOINTED CHIEF ENVOY IN AFGHAN EMBASSY AT DELHI

WebDesk June 25, 2023 3 minutes read

Last month, Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated a letter notifying Mr. Qadir Shah, already serving as Trade Counselor to take over as Chief Envoy of Afghanistan in its mission at New Delhi. Letter verbatim, “It is instructed that Mr. Muhammad Qadir Shah will be head of Afghan Embassy, New Delhi, India till further orders. Please take necessary action in this regard and info us”. Former president Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani’s era appointed ambassador Farid Mamundzay with the tacit approval of Indian Ministry of External Affairs has been resisting Mr Shah’s appointment. MEA has not accepted Qadir Shah’s credentials as ambassador so far. Thus Afghanistan embassy at New Delhi is still showing Ghani era tri-colour flag and a portrait of Ashraf Ghani still hanging against the embassy’s wall. Indian government has allowed Afghan embassy in Delhi to function as an extension of previous government on the same pattern as it did during Taliban’s last stint in power between 1996 and 2001 – the embassy then continued to represent government of former president Burhanuddin Rabbani. Despite the change in who holds power in Kabul, Farid Mamundzay says: “Embassy still follows the rules and policies of the old government that appointed him. We are still representing the former republic, our former democracy. We are not taking orders from [the Taliban]”. Visitors to Afghan embassy in India’s capital – housed in a sprawling compound in heart of Delhi’s diplomatic enclave – are greeted by a photograph of former president Ashraf Ghani when they enter the building. Ghani fled Afghanistan as Taliban closed in on the capital after the collapse of his government. His photo also hangs on the wall of Ambassador Farid Mamundzay’s office, which still has the black, red and green tri-colour flag of the republic Ghani used to head. Since the last 10 months they took power, Taliban sent ambassadors to a number of countries including Russia, Pakistan, China, Turkmenistan and Iran. However, Indian MEA has so far not allowed Emirates (Taliban) flag to be raised at Afghanistan’s embassy at New Delhi. Episode shows that while India does not recognise Taliban government but contrary to that it set up a “technical mission” in Kabul. New Delhi, as learnt has been maintaining its anti-Taliban nexus with Younas Qanoni and with others who have been anathema to Taliban. Reportedly, on 15 June 23, NRF and ex Jihadis delegation headed by Younas Qanoni have left Turkey for India. Their meetings with Indian officials are reported to be held. Such non-recognition makesit abundantly clear that India is still standing with Ashraf Ghani’s regime and its remnants. Sequel to above episode in which Taliban appointed envoy is not recognized – ‘question’ arises with regard to presence of ‘Technical Staff’ (with diplomatic status) of India stationed at Indian Embassy at Kabul. The episode clearly shows that India has double standards towards Afghanistan which is the best example of, “Bagal Main Churi, Muh Main Ram Ram”. On one hand India propagates that it is building better relations with Afghanistan and on the other hand, it has rejected IAG nominated Ambassador and also reorganizing NRF through Younas Qanoni.