Former Afghan Envoy Claims India Encouraged Engagement With Taliban
Farid Mamundzay, Afghanistan's ex-ambassador to India, revealed that India actively prompted former Afghan government diplomats to engage with the Taliban.
Farid Mamundzay, Afghanistan's ex-ambassador to India, revealed that India actively prompted former Afghan government diplomats to engage with the Taliban.
According to Mamundzay, India's strategy included supporting individuals with direct Taliban links. He highlighted that Afghan consuls in Mumbai and Hyderabad are pro-Taliban.
In a Bloomberg interview, Mamundzay noted a recent strengthening in India-Taliban relations. He claimed that many diplomats from the previous Afghan administration have departed, leaving behind those who favour the Taliban and maintain contact with its foreign ministry.
India's foreign ministry has not commented on these assertions.
Mamundzay also told Bloomberg that Afghan Consul Generals Zakia Wardak in Mumbai, Syed Mohammad Ibrahimkhil in Hyderabad, and Mohammad Qadir Shah, the commercial consul at the Afghan embassy in India, back the Taliban regime.
The motives behind India's apparent warming towards the Taliban remain speculative. It's suggested that India aims to safeguard its Afghan investments and retain influence in the region.
India resumed its Kabul embassy operations last year, focusing on humanitarian aid, including food and medicine distribution. However, consular services like visa issuance for Afghans are still suspended.
In recent developments, the Taliban has assumed control over some Afghan diplomatic missions in India. Sher Mohammad Abbas Stankzai, the Taliban's Deputy Foreign Minister, confirmed ongoing operations of their Mumbai and Hyderabad consulates and impending reopening of the recently shut Delhi embassy.
