External Affairs Ministry sources today said a young Afghan student, who has studied in India for seven years while completing his doctorate at South Asia University on an MEA scholarship, has agreed to function as a diplomat in the Afghan Consulate.
Sources added that, as far as his affiliation or status is concerned, he is an Afghan national working for Afghans in India. Over the past three years,
Afghan diplomats manning the Afghan Embassy and Consulates in India have sought refuge or asylum in different Western countries and have left India. Sources informed that a lone former diplomat, who has continued to stay in India, has somehow kept the Afghan Mission and Consulates running. There is a large Afghan community based in India, which needs consular services. Sources said that more staff is therefore required to effectively service the Afghan nationals currently residing in India. As regards the issue of recognition, sources said that there is a set process for recognition of any government, and India will continue to work with the international community on this issue. AIR