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The Afghanistan embassy staff allegedly took exorbitant amounts from destitute Afghans for different services
NEW DELHI: Amid ambiguity over whether the Afghan embassy in India is still functional, ambassador Farid Mamundzay and his team has been accused of cheating Afghanis for issuance of new visas, their extension, and other services.
According to complaints filed by Afghani citizens with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and accessed by The New Indian, Mamundzay’s personal assistant Idress Khan Mamondzai, and a person named Qais Mwafaq took as much as USD 5000 or more than 41,000 to acquire emergency visa for India, which they never received.
Ambassador Mamundzay, appointed by the previous West-installed democratic government, has not been in India for the past three months.
One complaint, filed by Rabi Kakar, alleges that she paid $4500 to Idress Khan Mamondzai for two emergency visas for her and her medical patient. However, she never received the visas.
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“Idress told me that he knew someone who can get me an emergency visa to India (for treatment of a patient) but he charges USD 3000 for each visa. I borrowed USD4500 from a relative and transferred it to him. But I never got the visa. After 3 months, he stopped responding and probably blocked my number,” she wrote in her complaint.
Hilal Khan, a resident of Kabul, has a similar ordeal to share. He alleged that he sent $5000 to the embassy staff in October 2022 with the promise of receiving an India emergency visa. However, he has neither received the visa nor his money back.
“After repeated calls and messages to Idris and his friends, I realized that it was a scheme for Idress and his friend Qais Mawafq to cheat me,” he wrote.
Several other Afghan citizens have written to the Ministry of External Affairs of India, seeking justice and asking for an investigation into the matter. They allege that the embassy is charging illegal fees for passport and visa formalities, and that this is adding to the woes of Afghan refugees who are already struggling to make ends meet.
The allegations come at a time when the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi is reportedly facing a financial crisis and is on the verge of closure. The embassy has blamed the Indian government for not providing financial support, while the Indian government has said that it is examining the authenticity of the embassy’s communication.
The New Indian has reached out to the Afghanistan embassy in New Delhi, but is yet to get a response.
The embassy is currently manned by the diplomats representating erstwhile republic government in Kabul, which was taken over by the Taliban in August 2021 in a lightning offensive following the announcement of withdrawal of NATO troops.
The ambassador recently issued a statement stating that the embassy was being shut down due to lack of funds and support from the Indian government. The MEA has said it is examining the authenticity and contents of the communication.
Official sources say they have observed infighting among the embassy personnel and their steady departure to third countries.
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Like most countries, India does not recognise the Taliban as legitimate rulers of Afghanistan, and had closed down its embassy in Kabul after the regime change. However, New Delhi has reopened its mission to coordinate humanitarian assistance and help India companies complete their development projects.
It is not clear if the Indian government will accept Kabul’s request for appointment of the Taliban regime’s diplomats in New Delhi.
