'Will Continue To Assist People Of Afghanistan In India': MEA As Afghan Embassy Stops Operations

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said it received communication last week from the Afghanistan embassy of its intention to suspend operations at the end of September.

The Afghanistan embassy in Chankyapuri in New Delhi

Source : Getty

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said it would continue to assist the people of Afghanistan living in India after the Embassy of Afghanistan in New Delhi ceased operations from October 1. Addressing the media, spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said MEA received communication last week from the Afghanistan embassy of its intention to suspend operations at the end of September.

However, Bagchi refused to confirm the authenticity of the letter. "We would hope that a substantial number of Afghan nationals in India, including students, are able to continue to receive necessary consular support. On our part, we will continue with our efforts to assist the people of Afghanistan," Bagchi said.

READ | Afghanistan Embassy Alleges 'Inconsiderate Conduct' By MEA, Delhi Blames It On Envoy’s Long Absence, Infighting

The MEA spokesperson further said a large number of Afghan diplomats had left India in the recent past. 

"We received communication last week purportedly from the embassy, indicating that it intends to suspend operations at the end of September. Of course, such a decision is an internal matter of a foreign mission. However, we have noted that the Afghan consulates general in Mumbai and in Hyderabad voiced their objection to that decision or to such a decision. We are also aware that there has been a prolonged absence of the ambassador," he said.

The Embassy of Afghanistan in New Delhi shut down its operations two years after the Taliban took over Afghanistan even as former President Ashraf Ghani fled to another country.

The MEA had said the development was the fall out of their own internal issues. However, the diplomatic staff of the mission said the Indian government had stopped extending any kind of support to them. 

Official sources told ABP Live that Afghan Ambassador Farid Mamundzay’s prolonged travel outside of India for the past many months was one of the factors for the stalled work at the mission. Other factors they cited were steady departure of diplomats to third countries after receiving asylum and infighting amongst embassy personnel.