These three men will take charge of the Afghanistan embassy in New Delhi.
Amidst the growing closeness between New Delhi and Kabul which has created tensions for other players in the Indian subcontinent, including India’s archrival Pakistan, there is speculation that Kabul is all set to send three more diplomats to New Delhi who would eventually take control of the Afghan embassy in the city.
As reported by The Sunday Guardian in November last year regarding the appointment of Taliban’s representative Dr Ikramuddin Kamil at the Afghanistan consulate in Mumbai, speculation since then indicated that three more diplomats would be sent to New Delhi soon.
Reliable sources aware of the matter told The Sunday Guardian on the condition of anonymity that Mohd. Naim Numan, Deputy of the First Political Department, Sayed Masoom Asim and Safiullah Jabarkhel, Members of the Inspection Department would soon be sent to Delhi and are likely to take charge of the Afghan embassy in New Delhi, which presently is being run by Charge d’Affaires Syed Mohammad Ibrahimkhil.
Last year, Afghan media also reported that three individuals were likely to be sent to New Delhi including Najib Shaheen, son of the head of the Taliban’s political office in Qatar, Suhail Shaheen.
But sources aware of the matter said that “his name has been dropped as the three new names don’t include his name. But one cannot completely rule out the possibility of his appointment in the coming times.” On 8 January 2025, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held talks with Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting foreign minister of the Taliban, in Dubai. This crucial meeting happened just days after India condemned Pakistan’s air attacks on Afghanistan which killed several civilians, including women and children.
Since the takeover by Taliban in August 2021, it is not that India has not kept a channel of communication with them.
Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretary who handles Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, J.P. Singh, has travelled to Afghanistan on several occasions, with his last visit being in November last year where he also met Taliban’s acting defence minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, son of Taliban’s founder Mullah Omar.
The two sides have been talking on trade connectivity, humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan, renewal of visas for Afghans, India’s investment in Kabul, while Taliban has been assuring New Delhi about the latter’s security concerns.
Interestingly, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov this week called for adding India to the Quad grouping on Afghanistan that currently has China, Pakistan, Iran and Russia.
He also said that it was important to strengthen trust within the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation).
His comments assume significance at a time New Delhi has been increasing its engagement with Kabul.