The Hindu (Thiruvananthapuram)
Taliban are trying to install their nominees in India, cautions Afghan diplomat
Days after Afghanistan’s most senior diplomat in India resigned over charges of smuggling, diplomats still loyal to the previous democratic regime in Kabul warn that the Taliban are making another attempt to install a nominee in India, and urged India and other countries not to “normalise” ties with the Taliban. The warnings came amidst turmoil within Afghanistan’s Delhi Embassy and Consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad and a scandal involving a top diplomat accused of smuggling gold, that has left the missions in India practically leader-less.
“Normalisation and recognition should not occur until they take tangible actions aligned with the demands of the Afghan people and the international community, focusing on the formation of an inclusive system based on the will of the people, justice, and the rule of law,” Afghanistan’s Acting Permanent Representative to the United Nations Naseer Ahmad Faiq told The Hindu, pointing to many countries in the region that have now accepted Taliban-appointed diplomats.
However, the United Nations has refused to grant accreditation to new diplomats at the UN mission, citing the Taliban’s unkept promises on inclusive government, human rights and education and employment rights to women and girls.
Diplomatic sources conrmed to The Hindu this week that the Afghanistan Embassy in Delhi has also received documents appointing an India-based Afghan academic reportedly cleared by the Taliban Foreign Ministry in Kabul for the post of Acting ConsulGeneral in Mumbai. If granted permission by the Ministry of External A£airs (MEA), the academic, who is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the South Asian University in Delhi, could become the rst Talibanappointed diplomat to take oce at Afghan missions in India.
Mr. Faiq acknowledged the reports on the new consul’s appointment attempt in India, saying that the Taliban are “inserting people” into missions worldwide as a means to “gain recognition” .