India finds itself in a difficult situation after the Taliban appointed Qadir Shah as its envoy to India, with the previous Afghan ambassador, Farid Mamundzay, and other diplomats appointed by the previous Ashraf Ghani government refusing to relinquish charge. The embassy accused Shah of spreading misinformation and running a baseless campaign against the mission. Shah was working as a trade counsellor with the embassy when he was redesignated as charge d’affaires by the Taliban.
The Taliban’s move to appoint an envoy to India was confirmed by its chief of political office in Doha, Suhail Shaheen. While India had close ties with the Ghani government, it has sought to engage with the Taliban, notably through aid diplomacy, supplying over 40,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan, and reopening its embassy. The Indian government has not yet revealed its position on the issue.
The decision to appoint its own envoy to India is in line with the Taliban’s efforts to take control of more Afghan embassies worldwide, despite limited success due to the international community’s reluctance to recognize the Taliban-led government in Kabul. The Taliban has been criticized for its crackdown on women and girls, including blocking their access to education and employment.
The Indian embassy has rejected Shah’s claim to be the charge d’affaires and appreciated the consistent position of the Indian government in supporting the Afghan people’s interests while not recognizing the Taliban regime in Kabul, as has been the case with democratic governments worldwide. The embassy has also worked closely with Indian authorities on humanitarian issues, including the supply of Covid-19 vaccines, medicines, and food.
