Taliban Delegation’s Visit Sparks Tensions at Afghan Embassy in Delhi:

As Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi stepped into the Afghan embassy in Delhi, he was met not with a warm welcome but with quiet resistance from Afghan staff loyal to the ousted Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Just moments before his arrival, an agitated Afghan employee walked out carrying a flagpole, saying, “I will not let them hoist the Taliban flag as long as I am around.” This quiet yet defiant act captured the deep divisions that still linger within Afghan diplomatic spaces, especially as the Taliban government, now calling itself the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, tries to cement its presence internationally. Since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, many Afghan diplomats who had served under former President Ashraf Ghani left their posts, with many seeking asylum in countries like the US, UK, and Canada. But some, like Sayed Mohammed Ibhrahimkhil, the charge d’affaires (CDA) at the Delhi embassy and former Consul General in Hyderabad, have stayed. They continue to operate under the old flag and use stationery that bears the seal of the now-defunct Republic. While India has not officially recognized the Taliban regime, a recent meeting between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Muttaqi at Hyderabad House marked a significant diplomatic shift. Notably, the meeting was held without the flags of either country — a deliberate move to sidestep the thorny issue of recognition. Inside the embassy, however, tensions escalated. When Muttaqi addressed a press conference — with only male journalists allowed — his delegation placed a small Taliban flag on the table, directly in front of a painting of the Bamiyan Buddhas, destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. Embassy staff, watching from another room, had earlier offered to hold the event at a hotel, anticipating the controversy. "We had tea and snacks ready," one staff member said, "but we didn’t feel like serving them." The press event sparked further outrage when no women journalists were allowed entry — reflecting the Taliban’s hardline stance on women’s rights. Asked about these issues, Muttaqi dismissed criticism as "propaganda" and said Afghanistan followed Shariah, where "everyone has rights" according to local customs. He added that India had agreed to allow Taliban diplomats in Delhi and that the regime would soon send its representatives. When asked about appointing an ambassador, he said contacts would “gradually increase.” Muttaqi claimed that Afghanistan was now more peaceful than before August 2021. “Earlier, there were 200 to 400 deaths daily. Now, that has stopped. Have you seen any protests? People are happy,” he asserted. On foreign policy, Muttaqi emphasized that no terror groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed or Lashkar-e-Taiba operate in Afghanistan anymore. “Not even one inch of our soil is controlled by anyone else,” he said. He also denied reports that the Taliban had offered the Bagram airbase to the US, affirming that Afghanistan would not allow any foreign military presence. On regional ties, he criticized Pakistan for recent border violence while calling for improved relations. He also urged India and Afghanistan to cooperate on developing the Chabahar Port and reopening trade via the Wagah border, which he described as “essential” for both economies. Interestingly, on his way out, Muttaqi bypassed the main entrance of the embassy — where the old Afghan flag still flies — opting for a side exit. When asked whether the embassy now belonged to the Islamic Republic or the Islamic Emirate, he said simply, “Yeh hamara hai (It is ours).” Despite the Taliban’s growing international outreach, in Delhi, the symbolism of the Afghan Republic’s flag flying high suggests that not all Afghans — especially those in exile — are ready to accept the Islamic Emirate just yet.

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