"Have legitimacy to serve...looking forward to India's response": Afghan Envoy on appointment of Charge d'Affaires by Taliban

New Delhi [India], May 16 : Outright rejecting the claims from the Taliban that they have appointed the Charge d'Affaires to replace him as the head of the mission in India, Afghanistan's envoy Farid Mamumdzay said that he was appointed by a legitimately elected government and has the legitimacy to serve here.
Stressing that he is Afghanistan's legitimate representative, Mamumdzay said that he has shared his concerns with the Indian government and is awaiting a response.
The Afghan embassy in India on Monday said there is no change in its leadership following reports that the Taliban have appointed a charge d'affaires to head the mission replacing incumbent Farid Mamundzay.
"We categorically rejected the claims from the Taliban that they have appointed the Charge d'Affaires at the mission. The embassy operates as normal as it did in the past. There has been an individual working at our mission who defected to the Taliban sadly and who pledged allegiance to the Taliban movement. I got to know about this on April 25. So, this episode has been weighing on since the last three weeks while I was travelling outside India and as soon as I get to know, I returned back to the mission", the Afghan envoy told ANI in an exclusive interview.
Mamundzay was appointed by the previous Ashraf Ghani government and he has been operating as the Afghan envoy even after the Taliban seized power in August 2021.
When asked what can be the motive behind the Taliban in doing so, the Envoy said that as it carries no legitimacy, it is their way of making wider contacts within the "international community".
"Taliban carries no legitimacy, either in Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world. No government has recognized their regime so far. And India has consistently taken that principle position by not extending any recognition to the Taliban. The motive behind taking over our mission in such a manner is to increase their contacts with the wider international community", said the Envoy.
"Taliban feel internationally alienated and isolated from the wider world, which is something that they have done at themselves. They need to form an inclusive government and begin to respect the rule of law, Extend the required services and liberty to the people of Afghanistan, particularly by treating women and girls as they deserve. I'm sure the people of Afghanistan wouldn't grant them legitimacy," he added.
Speaking further about Qadir Shah who has been appointed by the Taliban as the envoy for the mission in India, the envoy said that he wasn't an accredited diplomat and that he collaborated and worked closely without his or his staff's knowledge with the Taliban and revolted against the mission breaking all those diplomatic norms and standards.
"This particular individual has been working at the mission for the past two years and three months. He was not an accredited diplomat from Kabul. His accreditation was done here, sometime back, he worked as an administrative staff, appointed from Kabul in the rank of a local staff here. So, he was not in the Ministry of foreign affairs records, he has never been a diplomat. He was promoted to being a diplomat on April 25, 2023, just less than three weeks ago. Almost three weeks ago. After the collapse of our government, he was given the portfolio of the trade office. He worked together with the trade officers. He collaborated and worked closely without my or my staff's knowledge with the Taliban and revolted against the mission, Against all diplomats, breaking all those diplomatic norms and standards, and sadly tried to implement those instructions, those orders that were given to him from Kabul", said the Envoy.
"While I was away from India at that time, spoke to him (Qadir Shah) a few times to convince him to avoid creating a situation where the mission would be in a difficult position. Sadly, he continued with the plans given to him, apparently by the Taliban. My colleagues then decided on April 29 to expel him from the mission, terminate his contract and by the time I returned here, he was no longer working for the mission", he added.
India has not yet recognised the Taliban set-up and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul besides insisting that Afghan soil should not be used for any terrorist activities against any country. Until now, there has been no response on the matter from the Indian side.