Mamundzay insists he is still ambassador to India

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Afghan ambassador to India says no change has been made to the leadership of the embassy in New Delhi.

Farid Mamundzay’s statement comes in hard on the heels of Indian media reports claiming the caretaker Afghan government had appointed trade counsellor Qadir Shah as charge d’ affaires.

On Monday, the Afghanistan embassy in Delhi rejected media reports that IEA had appointed a new point man in New Delhi.

It spurned the claims as misinformation and an unsubstantiated campaign against the embassy officials by the Taliban administration.

Mamundzay appreciated New Delhi's support to the people of Afghanistan and its position on the interim government in Kabul.

“The embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan categorically rejects the claims from an individual to have taken charge of the mission in Delhi at the behest of the Taliban,” he said in a statement.

He added: “The embassy appreciates the consistent position of the Indian government on supporting the interests of the Afghan people, while not recognizing the Taliban regime …”

Mamundzay shared a video clip on social media, saying he left India three weeks ago and Qadir Shah, another embassy official, contrary to all diplomatic norms, introduced himself as the ambassador of the caretaker government to the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi.

He said Shah had been dismissed from his position and was no longer authorised to enter the embassy, which continued to work as usual.

But another letter, signed by human resource head Lutfullah Khpalwak, announced an end to Mamundzay’s job.

“The individual who claims to have been named chargé d'affaires by the Taliban has been responsible for spreading misinformation and running a baseless and unsubstantiated campaign against officials of the mission, including fabricated allegations of corruption, based on an unsigned letter,” the ambassador explained.

He affirmed the mission’s commitment to protecting the “genuine interests of the Afghan nationals, especially in these trying times, and has worked closely with the Indian authorities on humanitarian efforts, including the supply of covid-19 vaccines, medicine and food supplies.”

The top diplomat continued: “The embassy also wishes to inform Afghan nationals that the mission continues functioning as normal and working for their interests in India.”

Pajhwok Afghan News has obtained a copy of that letter saying Mamundzay left India on a personal trip on April 5 and Shah was introduced as chargé d' affaires until next orders.

But another letter, issued on May 8, says Mamundzay had fired Shah.  “You were advised several times to shun undiplomatic behavior. But no reforms appeared in your actions and the embassy leadership has terminated your services.”

The letter went on to ask Shah: “You are advised to return your ID card, vehicle, official documents and other items to the embassy,”.

While some Afghan migrants in India accuse the ambassador and some other embassy officials of corruption, the mission insists the claims are baseless.

A credible source shared with Pajhwok the copy of a letter the representative of Afghan migrants in India has written to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul.

Afghan migrants accused the embassy officials of embezzlement, saying such practices damaged the image of Afghanistan.

The embassy added: “Unfortunately, over the past three days some unknown media outlets have been spreading one-sided, partial and biased reports in violation of journalistic principles. However, the embassy is not interested in reacting to such rumors spread unilaterally.

“To address the concerns of Afghan nationals, we stand firm by our previous and current stance and refuse all such rumours, published in a biased manner…”

In a post on its Facebook page, the embassy called the accusations “baseless rumours”. The embassy insisted it had been serve Afghan nationals even after the political change in the country in 2021.

aw/sa/mud