India mulls options on re-opening embassy in Kabul

KABUL (Pajhwok): India is mulling over the possibility of reopening its embassy in Kabul, media reports said on Wednesday.

As several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Japan and the European Union are discussing the possibility of re-staffing embassies in Kabul, India is also considering its options on a presence in Afghanistan, The Hindu reported.

In November, the UAE resumed its diplomatic operations in Kabul, where the embassies of Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, Qatar, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are still open.

Last month, Washington and Doha signed an agreement for the Qatari embassy in Kabul to represent the “diplomatic interests” of the U.S.

At present, the Indian Embassy in Kabul, which was evacuated within two days of the Taliban taking control of the city on August 15, is locked and has not been ransacked or damaged.

It is being guarded by the Taliban. India’s consulates in Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif, Jalalabad and Kandahar City were completely shut and emptied out before the final evacuation.

India is said to be considering several options, including posting a team in the well-secured UN compound, keeping local Afghan staff, or maintaining a small group of diplomats and security personnel at the embassy itself.

sa/mud

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