Afghan Embassy in India Suspends Operations as Ambassador and Diplomats Seek Asylum Abroad

The Afghan embassy in India has ceased all operations following the departure of the ambassador and other senior diplomats, who have sought asylum in Europe and the United States, according to three embassy officials who confirmed this development on Friday.

India does not recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan and had previously closed its embassy in Kabul after the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. However, India had allowed the ambassador and mission staff, who were appointed by the Western-backed government led by ousted Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, to continue handling visa issuance and trade matters.

At least five Afghan diplomats have departed from India, as confirmed by embassy officials. The Indian government will now take control of the diplomatic compound in a caretaker capacity, as stated by one of the Afghan officials.

When questioned about these developments, an Indian foreign ministry official in New Delhi stated that they were looking into the matter but did not provide further details.

Officials from the Taliban government in Kabul were not immediately available for comment.

India is among a dozen countries with a small mission in Kabul aimed at facilitating trade, humanitarian aid, and medical support. Bilateral trade between India and Afghanistan reached $1.5 billion in 2019-2020 but experienced a significant decline following the establishment of the Taliban government.

Earlier this month, hundreds of Afghan college students residing in India, despite the expiration of their student visas, staged a demonstration in New Delhi, urging the Indian government to extend their stay.