India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said on Saturday that some Afghan diplomats have left the Afghan embassy in New Delhi after obtaining residency in third countries.
The Times of India reported that Jaishankar said that the embassy and consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad are now being run by the remaining diplomats.
“In the past two years, some Afghan diplomats have left India after obtaining residency in third countries,” Jaishankar said.
He noted that India’s approach to Afghanistan is based on historical ties, friendship with the people, and relevant UN resolutions.
The departure of Afghan diplomats from India is a sign of the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. The Taliban takeover in August 2021 has led to a humanitarian crisis and a political vacuum.
Many Afghans have fled the country, and those who remain are struggling to make ends meet.
It is unclear why the Afghan diplomats left India. Some have speculated that they were concerned about the Taliban’s treatment of women and minorities. Others have said that they were looking for better opportunities in third countries.
The departure of the diplomats is a blow to India’s efforts to maintain ties with Afghanistan.
