India says Afghan embassy still open despite suspension announcement

Afghanistan’s embassy in New Delhi continues to function, India’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, days after the embassy announced that it was suspending operations, Reuters reports.

India does not recognise Afghanistan’s Taliban government though it has allowed the Ambassador and mission staff, who were appointed by the government of ousted Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani, to issue visas and handle trade matters.

The embassy had announced last week that it would cease operations in India from 1 October,  listing a series of allegations including that it received no support from the Indian government.

Rejecting the claims, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, said, “I don’t think they are factually correct.”

“Our understanding is that the embassy in New Delhi is functioning,” Bagchi told reporters. He added that the Foreign Ministry had been informed of the embassy’s decision to halt operations and was in touch with Afghan diplomats at the embassy and consulates in Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

“We are also aware that there has been a prolonged absence of the Ambassador, and that a large number of Afghan diplomats have left India in the recent past,” Bagchi said.

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