KABUL: Afghanistan’s embassy in India has officially declared its “permanent closure” more than two years after the Taliban regained control in Kabul.
Despite not formally recognizing the Taliban government, many countries, including India, acknowledge them as the de facto ruler of Afghanistan. This situation has left several Afghan embassies in a state of uncertainty, as diplomats appointed by the previous government resist handing over control to Taliban representatives.
The announcement of the closure was made through a letter posted on social media by the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in New Delhi. The letter explained that there are no remaining diplomats from the former government in India, as they have all safely relocated to third countries. The only individuals present in India are now affiliated with the Taliban.
This decision follows a statement made last month about the suspension of embassy operations. The letter acknowledged the complexities and challenges of realpolitik in a geopolitically sensitive region. It emphasized that closing the mission in India and transferring custodial authority to the host country is deemed to be in the best interests of Afghanistan.
The Taliban authorities have gained full control of about a dozen Afghan embassies abroad, while others operate on a hybrid system with embassy staff continuing routine consular work. New Delhi had evacuated its entire mission from Kabul in August 2021 as the Taliban advanced, but a small team was later sent to reopen the embassy.
In contrast, some countries, such as Pakistan, China, and Russia, maintained their embassies in Kabul without closure.
