At the heart of the recent controversy surrounding Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s press conference in Delhi, and specifically the initial exclusion of women journalists, lies a deeper power struggle. This tussle is between the Taliban regime, which calls itself the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and the diplomatic staff in Delhi still loyal to the former democratically elected Afghan Government, known as the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – a government India continues to recognize. The remaining diplomatic staff at the Embassy view these press conferences, reportedly encouraged by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), as a direct attempt by the Taliban to seize control of the Embassy compound. They now openly express grave concerns for their personal safety and the well-being of their families.
Despite the MEA consistently rejecting any involvement, stating it had “no role in the press interaction” held by Mr. Muttaqi, the situation remains tense. Following widespread outrage from journalist groups over his first press conference last Friday (October 10, 2025), Mr. Muttaqi held a second one on Sunday (October 12), this time inviting journalists without gender restrictions. However, even with the Republic’s red, green, and black tricolor still proudly flying on the tall flagpole outside, the Taliban delegation used the opportunity to display their own black and white flags inside the Embassy, utilizing them as a backdrop and on the table. While some countries like Russia, China, Pakistan, and certain Gulf and Central Asian nations have already accepted the Emirate flag at Afghan Embassies, most Western and East Asian countries hosting former government embassies have not.
When questioned by The Hindu about the Taliban flag’s presence, Mr. Muttaqi defiantly stated, “We waged ‘jihad’ under this flag. We fought with the flag and won with the flag, and that’s the reason we have this flag here today.” Asked how much of the Embassy they controlled, given the Republic flag outside, he confidently replied, “100%,” claiming all 500,000 government employees and mission staff worldwide now work for the Islamic Emirate. However, Mohammad Ibrahimkhil, the Charge d’Affaires of the Afghan Embassy Delhi, who was present, immediately dismissed this claim as “completely false.”
The Hindu spoke to several Afghan staff members at the Embassy, as well as former Ambassadors and diplomats who had previously served in Delhi, all of whom contested the Taliban’s assertions. One staffer, speaking anonymously due to fears for their family in Afghanistan, explained, “This is a lie. Until the Indian Government doesn’t recognise the Taliban Government, this Embassy is with the Republic and our flag is flying on Shantipath. When India recognises them, we will respectfully leave, and hand the MEA the keys to the Embassy. Then it is for the MEA to decide whether India will fly the Emirate flag of the Taliban here.” The staffer revealed that they had initially pleaded with the MEA to host Mr. Muttaqi’s press conference at the five-star hotel where the acting Minister and his delegation were staying. “We were told that not allowing Mr. Muttaqi to hold the press conference inside the Embassy would mean that we were taking a stand against India. We then agreed to it, as we respect the Indian Government, and they had promised to protect us earlier,” another staff member added, also requesting anonymity.
This is not the first instance where Embassy staffers have defended the premises. In May 2023, they successfully prevented Qadir Shah, an Afghan carrying an appointment letter from the Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from entering the Embassy and taking over as CDA by locking the gates.
With India now agreeing to upgrade its technical mission in Kabul to a full Embassy, and Mr. Muttaqi’s announcement that India will accept diplomats from the Emirate, the current staff members anticipate being powerless to resist any further takeover. They fear losing their jobs and, more critically, their safety if they are forced to return to Afghanistan.
The MEA has yet to respond to a series of questions posed by The Hindu regarding the situation at the Embassy and the level of diplomatic exchange India intends to pursue with the Acting Government of Afghanistan following External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s announcement. In December 2023, then-Minister of State for MEA V. Muraleedharan had specifically stated in Parliament that “the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in New Delhi and the Consulates of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Mumbai and Hyderabad [that] continue to function in India.” He added that remaining Afghan diplomats had taken over responsibilities after the last serving Ambassador, Farid Mamundzay, resigned and declared the Embassy shut due to a “lack of support” from the MEA, accusing New Delhi of softening its stance towards the Taliban.
However, following meetings with MEA officials, the Embassy remained open for consular services for approximately 15,000 Afghans residing in India, managed by a skeletal staff jointly run by Consul-Generals in Mumbai and Hyderabad who are “aligned” with the Emirate Government. The Embassy in Delhi remains the last bastion for those still pledging allegiance to the Afghan Republic. Its staffers are deeply concerned that India’s recent decisions to strengthen cooperation with the Kabul regime, which currently only Russia recognizes, will cast a dark shadow over their futures and the safety of their families, both in India and in Afghanistan.