Afghan student to serve as diplomat in India amid staff shortage at the Afghan consulate

Amid the ongoing diplomatic vacuum left by Afghan diplomats who have sought asylum in Western countries, India has found a solution to maintain consular services for the large Afghan community residing in the country, news agency ANI reported citing MEA sources.

A young Afghan student, who has lived in India for seven years and completed his doctorate from South Asia University on an MEA scholarship, has agreed to serve as a diplomat at the Afghan Consulate.

Over the past three years, most of the Afghan diplomatic staff in India have left, seeking refuge in various Western nations, leaving behind a significant gap in consular services.


Despite this, a lone former diplomat has managed to keep the Afghan Mission and Consulates in India operational.

However, with a growing Afghan community in India, the need for additional staff to assist with consular services has become pressing.

The young Afghan student, who is well-known to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), has stepped in to fulfill this vital role.

"As far as his affiliation or status is concerned, for us, he is an Afghan national working for Afghans in India," MEA sources were quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

India has yet to recognize the Taliban regime and continues to advocate for the establishment of an inclusive government in Kabul.

New Delhi insists that the Afghan territory must not be used for terrorist activities targeting any nation.

Since August 2021, India has maintained a technical team in Kabul and remains a key player in providing humanitarian aid.