The Embassy extends its sincere gratitude for support…
New Delhi: On Thursday, the Afghanistan embassy in Delhi announced that it had shut down in the face of "persistent challenges from the Indian government".
This follows the halt to operations announced on September 30, which the embassy called "a move made in the hope the Indian government's stance will favorably change to let the mission operate normally."
The embassy said, "It now rests on the Indian government to decide the fate of the mission... to maintain closure or consider alternatives".
In its final statement, the embassy said it was cognisant some may attempt to characterize this move as an internal conflict - allegedly involving diplomats who switched allegiance to the Taliban - and stressed: "This decision is a result of broader changes in policy and interests".
"To the Afghan citizens in India, the Embassy extends its sincere gratitude for their understanding and support throughout our mission's tenure," it added.
In its statement on Friday, the embassy said it had worked "tirelessly" for the betterment of Afghan citizens "despite limitations in power and resources" and, crucially, had done so "in the absence of a legitimate government in Kabul".
The embassy also said it had attempted to "exert diplomatic pressure in its power on those who defy the will of the Afghan people by failing to form an inclusive government and denying millions of girls the right to attend school".
Edited By: Arusha Farooq
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