Taliban depute acting counsellor in Mumbai

The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has appointed an India-based Afghan national, Ikramuddin Kamil, as its new acting counsellor in Mumbai. It is the regime’s first appointment in India.

There is no official word from New Delhi on the development. Sources, however, said, “A young Afghan student, who the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is familiar with, has agreed to function as a diplomat in the Afghan consulate.”

On his affiliation or his status, the sources said, “For us, he is an Afghan national working for Afghans in India.”

India does not officially recognise the Taliban regime that took over following the collapse of the Ashraf Ghani government in August 2021. Commenting on the issue of recognition, the sources said, “There is a set process for recognition of any government and India will continue to work with the international community on the issue.”

Kamil has studied in India for seven years while completing his doctorate from South Asian University on a scholarship from the MEA.

Over the past three years, diplomats manning the Afghan embassy and consulates in India have sought refuge or asylum in different western countries and have left India. The development comes just a week after an Indian delegation led by JP Singh, a senior Indian diplomat, visited Kabul to discuss various issues with the Taliban regime.

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban’s deputy foreign minister for political affairs, was the first one to give information on the matter. Posting a picture of Kamil on X on Monday night, he mentioned about the appointment.

The Taliban-controlled Bakhtar News Agency today said Kamil’s appointment was as an “acting consul of the Islamic Emirate in Mumbai”.

Kamil holds a PhD degree in international law and has previously served as deputy director in the department of security cooperation and border affairs in the foreign ministry.

Kamil is said to be Pashtun from Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan. He studied law at the Islamic University, Islamabad, before joining South Asian University in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, TRAI had yesterday hosted South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council, which had a  delegation from the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Already based in India

The Taliban regime has appointed India-based Afghan national, Ikramuddin Kamil, as its new acting counsellor in Mumbai. Kamil has studied in India for seven years while completing his doctorate from South Asian University on a scholarship from the MEA.