In Afghanistan’s Delhi Embassy, Infighting Comes To The Fore

There is a full blown power struggle at the Afghan embassy in Delhi as Ambassador Farid Mamundzay battles on to stay in office in defiance of the Taliban run foreign ministry.

Mamundzay was appointed by the previous Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

In Delhi the Taliban regime has not managed to take control of its mission. It has however nominated its members in 14 other missions.

The scenario in Delhi is however likely to change as the Mamundzay has been pitted against another diplomat in his team who has been appointed Charge d'affaires.

The Ministry of External Affairs has however not taken sides, following the battle that erupted in April. The MEA is learnt to have conveyed to both sides that it would not interfere in this as it is an internal matter of Afghanistan. It needs to be settled internally and India will not take any side, the MEA also conveyed to Afghanistan.

On Monday Mamundzay issued a press statement saying he categorically rejects the claims from an individual claiming to have taken charge of the mission in Delhi at the behest of the Taliban.

He also said that the individual who claimed to be named as Charge d'affaires at the embassy by the Taliban was spreading misinformation and running a baseless campaign against the officials of the mission.

The individual according to sources is Muhammed Qadir Shah, a counsellor at the embassy in charge of trade.

The infighting came to light after Mamundzay brought it up at a weekly meeting of Afghan ambassadors posted in various capitals. All these ambassadors still affiliate themselves with the Islamic Republic rather than the Taliban's Islamic Republic.