The recent controversy surrounding Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s initial exclusion of women from his press conference in Delhi reveals a far more profound struggle. It underscores the ongoing power dispute between the ruling Taliban administration in Kabul, known as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and the former democratically elected Afghan government, still recognized by India. This battle for legitimacy is playing out directly within the Afghan Embassy compound in Delhi, where remaining diplomatic staff, loyal to the old government, perceive the press conferences—which they allege were encouraged by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)—as a direct attempt to seize control. These staffers now express grave fears for their personal safety and the well-being of their families.
The MEA has consistently denied any involvement in these press interactions, stating explicitly that it had ‘no role’ in the events organized by Mr. Muttaqi.
Following widespread condemnation from journalist organizations regarding his initial press briefing on Friday, Mr. Muttaqi convened a second conference on Sunday, this time without gender restrictions for attendees. Despite the former Republic of Afghanistan’s red, green, and black tricolour flag still prominently displayed outside the embassy, the Taliban delegation seized the opportunity to covertly introduce their own black and white flags, using them as backdrops and table displays during the events. While nations like Russia, China, Pakistan, and certain Gulf and Central Asian states have acknowledged the Emirate’s flag at their respective Afghan embassies, Western and East Asian countries hosting former government embassies have yet to follow suit.
“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,” Muttaqi declared on Sunday. When pressed on the extent of their control over the embassy, particularly with the Republic’s flag still flying outside, the Minister emphatically stated, “100%.” He further asserted that all 500,000 government employees and mission staff globally now serve the Islamic Emirate. However, Mohammad Ibrahimkhil, the Charge d’Affaires of the Afghan Embassy in Delhi, who attended the press conference, firmly refuted this, labeling the claim as ‘completely false’.
Several Afghan embassy staff, along with former ambassadors and diplomats who previously served in Delhi, echoed Ibrahimkhil’s sentiments, challenging the Taliban’s assertions of full control.
“This is a lie,” stated one staff member, who had unsuccessfully attempted to prevent the Taliban delegation from displaying their flags. “Until the Indian government officially recognizes the Taliban government, this embassy remains under the Republic’s authority, and our flag continues to fly on Shantipath. Once India grants them recognition, we will respectfully depart and hand over the embassy keys to the MEA. It will then be up to the MEA to decide whether the Taliban’s Emirate flag will fly here.” On Sunday, the Taliban indeed raised an even larger flag, though embassy staff managed to remove the official podium from the stage.
Another staffer revealed that they had previously appealed to the MEA to host Mr. Muttaqi’s press conference at the five-star hotel in Delhi where the acting Afghan Minister and his delegation were accommodated by the Indian government.
“We were informed that preventing Mr. Muttaqi from holding the press conference inside the embassy would be seen as taking a stand against India. We reluctantly agreed, out of respect for the Indian government, which had previously assured us of protection,” another anonymous staff member explained. All staffers requested anonymity, citing fears that their families in Afghanistan could face repercussions.
This incident is not the first time embassy staff have stood firm in defending the premises. In May 2023, they famously locked the embassy gates, preventing Qadir Shah, who presented an appointment letter from the Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from entering. Shah subsequently abandoned his attempt to assume the role of Charge d’Affaires.
Now, with India’s agreement to upgrade its technical mission in Kabul to a full embassy, and Mr. Muttaqi’s declaration that India will accept the Emirate’s diplomats, the current embassy staff feel helpless to resist any further takeover. They express profound fears of losing their jobs and facing severe safety risks if compelled to return to Afghanistan.
The MEA has remained silent regarding questions about the embassy’s future and the level at which India and Afghanistan’s acting government plan to exchange diplomats, following the agreement announced by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
Previously, in December 2023, then-Minister of State for MEA, V. Muraleedharan, confirmed in Parliament that “the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in New Delhi and the Consulates of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Mumbai and Hyderabad [still] continue to function in India.”
Muraleedharan further explained that while some Afghan diplomats had departed India for residency in other nations, the remaining Afghan diplomats in India had assumed responsibility for the continued diplomatic operations of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. This statement was a direct response to the last serving Ambassador, Farid Mamundzay, who had resigned, alleging the embassy’s closure was due to a ‘lack of support’ from the MEA and accusing New Delhi of a perceived shift in its stance towards the Taliban.
Despite these tensions, after discussions with MEA officials, the Embassy in Delhi was kept operational to provide consular services for the approximately 15,000 Afghans residing in India. This was managed by a minimal staff, alongside Consul-Generals in Mumbai and Hyderabad who are reportedly ‘aligned’ with the Emirate government. The Delhi Embassy now stands as the final stronghold for those still loyal to the Afghan Republic. Staffers fear that the MEA’s recent steps to deepen cooperation with the Kabul regime—which, notably, has only been formally recognized by Russia to date—will significantly jeopardize their future employment and the safety of their families, both in India and Afghanistan.