India Considers Accepting Islamic Emirate Representative
Indian newspaper the Sunday Guardian has reported on the possibility of India’s accepting the Islamic Emirate’s request to appoint a second secretary for the Afghanistan consulate in Mumbai.
The newspaper interprets the acceptance of an Islamic Emirate representative in Mumbai as a pragmatic shift by the Indian government toward formal recognition of the Islamic Emirate.
According to the report, Ikrarmuddin Kamil has been introduced as Afghanistan’s second secretary for the Afghanistan consulate in Mumbai.
The Sunday Guardian said: “In a significant step towards formalizing diplomatic ties between Delhi and Kabul, the Indian government is likely to accept the Taliban-led government’s request to appoint a representative for the Afghanistan consulate in Mumbai.”
In another part of the report, it notes that contrary to initial perceptions, Afghanistan’s interim government has not turned the country into a safe haven for terrorist groups, nor has it allowed terrorist groups focused on India to take refuge in Afghanistan.
The report stated: “After assuming power, the Taliban government, contrary to the narrative that was being pushed, has not presented itself as a haven for Pakistan backed terror groups and let Afghanistan emerge as a hot bed of terrorists. On the contrary, Kabul has ensured that India focused terror groups like Laskhar and Jaish are not allowed to operate or hide in Afghanistan.”
“India’s observations and analyses reflect the realities that exist within Afghan society. Based on this, we can say that these realities are accurate, and India’s understanding of Afghan society grants it the competence and permission to engage more closely with Afghanistan,” said Fazl Rahman Orya, a political analyst.
The Islamic Emirate has not commented on reports of sending a representative to Afghanistan’s consulate in Mumbai; however, the deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the consulate in Mumbai has begun issuing passports to applicants.
Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, the Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, said: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed the Afghan Consulate-General to begin the passport distribution process to resolve the issues of Afghan migrants, students, and businessmen.”
According to the Sunday Guardian, Ikrarmuddin Kamil, after the fall of the previous republic, obtained a doctorate from the South Asian University and has worked in the interim government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This report was published shortly after an Indian delegation, led by J.P. Singh, visited Kabul last week and met with various Islamic Emirate officials.
