Afghanistan’s envoy Farid Mamumdzay categorically denied the Taliban’s assertions that they had chosen the Charge d’Affaires to take over as the head of the mission in India, saying that he was chosen by a democratically elected government and has the authority to work here.
Mamumdzay emphasised that he is the rightful representative of Afghanistan and that he has spoken with the Indian government about his worries. He is still awaiting a response. In response to rumours that the Taliban had named a charge d’affaires to oversee the mission in place of current head Farid Mamundzay, the Afghan embassy in India stated on Monday that there has been no change in the embassy’s management.
Exclusively speaking to ANI, the envoy stated, “We categorically rejected the claims from the Taliban that they have appointed the Charge d’Affaires at the mission. The embassy operates as normal as it did in the past. There has been an individual working at our mission who defected to the Taliban sadly and who pledged allegiance to the Taliban movement. I got to know about this on April 25. So, this episode has been weighing on since the last three weeks while I was travelling outside India and as soon as I get to know, I returned back to the mission”.
Even after the Taliban took over in August 2021, Mamundzay continued to serve as the Afghan envoy because he had been appointed by the erstwhile Ashraf Ghani administration.
“Taliban carries no legitimacy, either in Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world. No government has recognized their regime so far. And India has consistently taken that principle position by not extending any recognition to the Taliban. The motive behind taking over our mission in such a manner is to increase their contacts with the wider international community”, averred the Envoy.
“Taliban feel internationally alienated and isolated from the wider world, which is something that they have done at themselves. They need to form an inclusive government and begin to respect the rule of law, Extend the required services and liberty to the people of Afghanistan, particularly by treating women and girls as they deserve. I’m sure the people of Afghanistan wouldn’t grant them legitimacy,” he mentioned further.
To elaborate on Qadir Shah’s appointment by the Taliban as the mission’s representative in India, the envoy affirmed, “This particular individual has been working at the mission for the past two years and three months. He was not an accredited diplomat from Kabul. His accreditation was done here, sometime back, he worked as an administrative staff, appointed from Kabul in the rank of a local staff here. So, he was not in the Ministry of foreign affairs records, he has never been a diplomat. He was promoted to being a diplomat on April 25, 2023, just less than three weeks ago. Almost three weeks ago. After the collapse of our government, he was given the portfolio of the trade office. He worked together with the trade officers. He collaborated and worked closely without my or my staff’s knowledge with the Taliban and revolted against the mission, Against all diplomats, breaking all those diplomatic norms and standards, and sadly tried to implement those instructions, those orders that were given to him from Kabul”.
“While I was away from India at that time, spoke to him (Qadir Shah) a few times to convince him to avoid creating a situation where the mission would be in a difficult position. Sadly, he continued with the plans given to him, apparently by the Taliban. My colleagues then decided on April 29 to expel him from the mission, terminate his contract and by the time I returned here, he was no longer working for the mission”, he further added.
In addition to pushing for the establishment of a Kabul administration that is really representative of all Afghans, India has refused to acknowledge the Taliban’s current leadership structure.
