KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Afghanistan Consulate in Mumbai, India, has announced the resumption of passport distribution for Afghan citizens starting today, November 11.
Zia Ahmad Takal, the deputy spokesperson for the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry, confirmed the announcement in a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter).
The consulate also announced that it would offer full consular services from Monday to Friday. However, there are no details yet on who currently heads the consulate or specifics about its operations. Previously, Zakia Wardak served as the Consul General in Mumbai, but she resigned in April following accusations of gold smuggling.
The status of the Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi remains uncertain, with neither India nor the Taliban providing recent updates.
The embassy shut down its operations in October last year, citing insufficient diplomatic support from India, lack of a recognized government in Afghanistan, and limited staff and resources as reasons for the closure.
However, Indian media later reported that Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar indicated that the Embassy along with its consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad was still operational.
Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban’s deputy foreign minister, also confirmed that these diplomatic missions are in contact with the Taliban and continue to operate under its support.
The recent resumption of consular services in Mumbai follows a recent visit by an Indian delegation to Kabul for talks with Taliban officials. Led by J.P. Singh, India’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran, the delegation met with Taliban representatives, including Defense Minister Yaqoob Mujahid and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
According to the Taliban’s Defense Ministry, discussions centered on enhancing bilateral relations, particularly in humanitarian aid and cooperation between Afghanistan and India. The Foreign Ministry noted that Singh and Muttaqi discussed easing visa procedures for Afghan citizens, especially traders, to strengthen economic ties.
Amir Khan Muttaqi expressed optimism for improved relations across various sectors, emphasizing that streamlining visa issuance is crucial for expanding trade.
