In a significant development, Dr. Hafiz Ikramuddin Kamil, a ‘young Afghan student’, is functioning as the acting consul at the Afghan Consulate in Mumbai.
This follows earlier reports that India might accept a representative from the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate at its consulate, signaling a shift as Kabul moves to take control of its diplomatic missions worldwide. Since retaking power in 2021, the Islamic Emirate has sought to administer nearly 40 Afghan missions globally, focusing on establishing official representation and support for its nationals abroad.
The Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Dr. Kamil’s appointment, marking a potential change in India’s approach toward Afghanistan’s current administration, said Tolo News. Taliban-affiliated ‘Bakhtar News Agency’ also reported that Dr Kamil had served as a Deputy Director in the Department of Security Cooperation and Border Affairs in the Foreign Ministry.
Indian government sources said this move comes after all but one Afghan diplomat appointed under former President Ashraf Ghani sought asylum in Western countries. Only one former diplomat remained in India to manage consular services for the large Afghan community, which has faced challenges due to a lack of sufficient diplomatic staff.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs had flagged the need for additional personnel to support the Afghan population in India. According to sources, Dr. Kamil has spent seven years in India and completed his doctorate at South Asia University on an MEA scholarship, making him well-suited for the role.
While India recognizes him as an Afghan national working for the Afghan community in India, formal recognition of the Islamic Emirate is a separate process that India will address in coordination with the international community, Indian official sources said.
Dr. Kamil’s appointment also follows an Indian official-J.P. Singh, Joint Secretary of the MEA’s Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran Division’s recent visit to Afghanistan. He met with Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob Mujahid, Afghanistan’s Defence Minister, Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Emirates’ Foreign Minister and former President Hamid Karzai, highlighting evolving ties between India and the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate.
A handle on X, believed to be run by the son of Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, who has trained in India, posted on Tuesday about Kamil’s appointment. Soon afterwards, Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, the Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, said: “The Ministry has instructed the Afghan Consulate-General to begin the passport distribution process to resolve the issues of Afghan migrants, students, and businessmen.”
Afghan political analyst Saleem Paigir and former diplomat Aziz Maarij stressed the importance of such diplomatic connections, said Tolo news. Paigir noted that Afghan migrants require consular support, and cooperation between Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its embassies benefits Afghan nationals abroad.
Similarly, Maarij was quoted as saying that “maintaining relations with India, especially when Afghanistan faces global isolation and its citizens and traders need secure economic ties, could solve many of Afghanistan’s challenges.”
No country officialy recognises the Taliban’s Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan. India has reposted a ‘technical team’ at its Embassy in Kabul since June 2022.
