Afghan Consul General Caught With Gold In Mumbai Airport Steps Down

Ten days after she was allegedly caught smuggling 25 kg of gold into India from Dubai, Afghanistan's consul general Zakia Wardak resigned on Saturday.

Zakia Wardak, Afghanistan's consul general in Mumbai, was intercepted by officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence upon her arrival on an Emirates flight from Dubai on the evening of April 25.

Acting on a tip-off, DRI officials were awaiting her after she passed through the green channel, indicating that no customs declaration had been made.

During a physical examination, she was discovered to be wearing specialized attire concealing two dozen gold bars. The total recovery amounted to 25 kilograms of gold, valued at Rs 18.6 crore, as documented in a panchnama, according to a report in The Times Of India. A case of gold smuggling was filed.

Her statement released on X claimed that Wardak has resigned from her position due to "personal attacks and defamation" and a "public narrative unfairly targeting the only female representative within this system".

"Over the past year, I have encountered numerous personal attacks and defamation not only directed towards me but also towards my close family and extended relatives. These attacks, which appear to be organized, have severely impacted my ability to effectively operate in my role and have demonstrated the challenges faced by women in Afghan society who strive to modernize and bring positive change amidst ongoing propaganda campaigns," Wardak said.

Wardak was appointed as consul general in Mumbai by the previous government in Afghanistan, prior to the Taliban assuming control of the country in August 2021.

In November, Wardak and Ibrahimkhail declared that they had taken over the leadership of the embassy in New Delhi, shortly after Ambassador Farid Mumundzay, who is currently stationed in London, announced the closure of the mission. They made this announcement following a series of meetings with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi.

The two consul generals urged everyone to disregard the "unprofessional and irresponsible communications" released by former Afghan diplomats.

She ended on the note that she sincerely hopes for a future "where women in leadership roles are supported and respected, where opportunities for progress are embraced rather than met with hostility and defamation."