Indian ambassador to Afghanistan People familiar with the situation told CNN-News18 that Farid Mamundzay announced that the country's embassy in India would be shut down due to the Taliban-led Afghan government's and the Indian government's lack of cooperation.
Mamundzay claimed in a letter to the Taliban-led Afghan government that he had been denied backing and diplomatic considerations, therefore he was unable to deliver on all fronts. He alleged that the Indian government ignored his repeated pleas for consideration of visas for traders and other categories.
Mamundzay, however, attributed India's refusal to comply with his requests on the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan and claimed that this was due to both a lack of inclusivity in the Taliban-led government and a lack of credibility among people in positions of authority in Afghanistan.
Mamundzay also cited low approval rates for student and medical visas.
The decision to close the embassy, according to government officials familiar with the situation, was made by the Afghan government. "We've done everything we can to support and expedite (their) mission here. They are free to choose this. We genuinely want them to work, the officials who are aware of the situation said CNN-News18.
They emphasise how long Mamundzay had been gone. The aforementioned individuals emphasised that "their cooperation with the Taliban-led government is also under serious question." According to those with knowledge of the situation, the government did not renew the visas of Afghan embassy employees after May 2023, thus they now require exit permits.
Speaking to the aforementioned individuals, Mamundzay said, "I have decided to shut down the mission by the end of September 2023 due to non-cooperation from India and no assistance from Kabul."
'Rift' Between New Delhi and Kabul Created by Mamundzay
According to sources, the Indian government is unhappy with the ambassador for Afghanistan. They stated that Mamundzay's role had been investigated for "a while." One of the aforementioned officials claimed, "He is attempting to cause a rift between the Indian government and the Taliban."
Although India has not accepted the Taliban-led government, the official added that Farid Mamundzay's efforts were "sufficient to create tensions between the Indian government and the Taliban regime".
They claimed Mamundzay did so in an effort to demonstrate to the Taliban that India is "cultivating leaders" from the Ghani government by bringing elderly leaders who served in the administration of former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
Be aware that Farid Mamundzay's appointment as the Afghan representative to India was first postponed because of his close ties to the Pakistani establishment.
Mamundzay has reportedly been gone from his workplace for the past two months, according to CNN-News18. According to sources cited by CNN-News18, Mamundzay visited Saudi Arabia two months ago but hasn't yet returned. The task is being handled by another diplomatic representative while Mamundzay is away.
Taliban did not appoint Mamundzay
The Taliban-led administration in Kabul responded to CNN-News18's inquiry by emphasising that Mamundzay was not their designated ambassador and declining to speak more. Additionally declining to respond was the ministry of external affairs (MEA).
When Mamundzay was in London in April 2023, trade counsellor Qadir Shah informed the MEA that he had been named Mamundzay's replacement as the chargé d'affaires (Acting Ambassador). The position was later confirmed by the Taliban.
However, sources with knowledge of the situation informed CNN-News18 that "correspondence and work is going on regularly" and is unaffected by any particular person.
Before it got violent, the dispute between Qadir Shah and Farid Mamundzay prevented Shah from entering the Afghanistan mission in New Delhi.
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