Afghan embassy in India announces ‘permanent closure’

NEW DELHI: Afghanistan´s embassy in India announced its “permanent closure” on Friday, more than two years after the Taliban returned to power in Kabul following the collapse of the Western-backed government.

Most foreign nations -- including India -- do not officially recognise Afghanistan´s Taliban government, but acknowledge them as the de facto ruling authority. This has left many Afghan embassies and consulates in limbo, with diplomats appointed by the former government refusing to cede control of embassy buildings and property to representatives chosen by the Taliban authorities.

“The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in New Delhi regrets to announce the permanent closure of its diplomatic mission in New Delhi,” it said in a letter it posted on social media platform X. The Taliban authorities have full control of around a dozen Afghan embassies abroad -- including in Pakistan, China, Turkiye and Iran.

Others operate on a hybrid system, with the ambassador gone but embassy staff still carrying out routine consular work such as issuing visas and other documents. The letter said there were no diplomats left from the former government remaining in India, having all “safely reached third countries”. “The only individuals present in India are diplomats affiliated with the Taliban”, it said. It follows a statement last month that the embassy had suspended operations.