By Banafsha Binesh in TOLOnews, May 16, 2023 at 9:32 PM
Officials of the Afghan embassy in India, who have been publicly accused of corruption, may leave the country, said Shams Qarizada, a representative of the “Afghans based in India.”
According to Qarizada, these officials are seeking visas of foreign countries.
Earlier, TOLOnews saw documents provided as evidence of discrepancies in financial records and alleged corruption at the Afghan embassy in India.
In one of the documents, a head of an Indian company claimed that the Afghan embassy in Delhi leased him two properties of the embassy and an empty lot identified as “Chaman.”
“It has brought mistrust among the Afghans, that the ambassador and employees who are involved in corruption may flee. To the extent we have information, they are seeking to get visas for foreign countries. I believe that these tensions are not helping Afghans and Afghan refugees, and this will be unfair toward the refugees,” Qarizada said.
Earlier, the Afghan ambassador in New Delhi, Farid Mamundzay, said that the activities of the embassy have been continuing at a normal level.
“During my tenure, I am ready for any kind of accountability towards any side,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Afghan refugees in India urged the officials of the embassy to end their dispute and address their challenges.
“There are a lot of problems. The children of the Afghan refugees can continue their (life) in good condition but they cannot continue their higher education unless they have documents in hand,” said Mohammad Qais Malikzada, deputy head of the Afghan refugees’ office in India.
Political analysts believe that the continuation of the situation would cause challenges in consulate services to the Afghan citizens.
“Not only the identity and dignity of Afghanistan will be damaged but also the Afghan refugees in India who need to be provided with facilities, particularly the students, they will also face problems,” said Aziz Maarij, a former diplomat.
“The individuals sent to the embassies were not professionals. It is obvious that we will face problems today,” said Abdul Malik Afghan, political analyst.
The deputy spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hafi Zia Ahmad Takal, confirmed to TOLOnews that MoFA appointed Qadershah former commerce advisor of the embassy as head of the embassy due to corruption and discrepancy in the embassy.
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-183394
