Taliban Says Afghan Consulates Reopened In Mumbai, Hyderabad

The Taliban-appointed Deputy Political Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai said that the Afghan consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad have been reopened and started functioning in the country, The Khaama Press reported on Wednesday.

It reported quoting the Minister, “Our consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad are operational. I have spoken to them, and they have reopened the embassy.”

The Afghanistan-based news agency reported that the minister, while speaking in an interview with the national television channel affiliated with the Taliban administration, said that the cessation of Afghanistan’s embassy activities in India is not a reality.

He claimed that the Afghan embassy and consulates in India are in contact with the ministry and said, “The claim made by someone named Naemi, who was a diplomat and stated that the embassy is closed and services are not provided, is false,” The Khaama Press reported.

On November 25, Afghan Embassy has said that there is no diplomat representing Afghanistan in India as of November 23.

“Neighbourhood first policy: We, the former Afghan diplomats want to set the record straight: As of Nov 23, there is no Afghan diplomat representing the former Republic in India. Those with ties to the Taliban are aligning themselves with Taliban and also Delhi’s interests,” as per the Afghan Embassy in India’s official handle on ‘X’.