Afghan Embassy in India Ends Operations

Facts

The embassy of Afghanistan in India's capital New Delhi has suspended operations from Sunday 'due to the lack of diplomatic support in India and the absence of a legitimate functioning government in Kabul.'¹
Citing the Indian government's failure to meet expectations in serving 'Afghanistan's interests,' the official statement added it had become 'increasingly challenging' to continue operations following cuts in staff and resources and difficulties renewing visas for diplomats.²
The Afghan embassy in India, which doesn't recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan, has been run by staff appointed by former Afghan Pres. Ashraf Ghani. About one-third of the nearly 40K refugees registered in India are Afghans.³
Though the embassy has ceased all operations, it will continue to provide 'emergency consular services to Afghan citizens till the transfer of the custodial authority of the mission' to the Indian state.⁴
While India's external affairs ministry has yet to comment, Afghanistan's ambassador reportedly left the country months ago, and many diplomats have departed to third countries having received asylum.⁵
Meanwhile, despite its closure, the embassy reaffirmed that it was 'keen' to reach an agreement with the Indian government 'at the earliest possible juncture' concerning safeguarding the lives of Afghans residing in the country.⁶

Narrative A, as provided by Afghanistantimes.af. Following the news that Afghanistan's ambassador had already been absent from India for several months, questions must be pointed at the leadership of the old-regime appointees in New Delhi. Despite this, the reality remains that India has continued to ignore its diplomatic duty since 2021 — a disappointing move that all but destroyed the embassy's long-term future in Kabul.
Narrative B, as provided by Indian defence review. For India to officially recognize the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan would be to set a precedent of acceptability within international relations for power to be gained through the barrel of a gun. The consequent security risks aren't worth official ties with Kabul. New Delhi must continue to survey the situation in Afghanistan and provide diplomatic recognition once a legitimate government has been established.