A female Afghan Consul General, Zakiya Wardak, was found in possession of gold worth $1.9 million at Mumbai Airport. According to reports, authorities suspected Wardak and her son and conducted a search, seizing 25 kilograms of gold. Following the incident, Wardak announced her resignation on social media, citing multiple instances of attacks and harassment over the past year. She did not comment on the allegations of gold smuggling, but highlighted the challenges women face in Afghan society.
After Wardak’s resignation, thousands of Afghan citizens, including students and traders, are left without consulate representation in India. While the Taliban has taken control of Afghanistan, most countries have not officially recognized their government. Several former embassy staff have refused to hand over control of embassy buildings and properties to the Taliban.
In many countries, a hybrid system of embassy operations is functioning, where consular staff work as usual after the departure of ambassadors, processing visas and other documents. After the Taliban took power in August 2021, most countries recalled their ambassadors and closed their diplomatic missions in Kabul, except for Pakistan, China, and Russia, whose diplomats remain in the Afghan capital.
Overall, the events at Mumbai Airport have shed light on the complexities and challenges facing Afghan diplomats and citizens in the current political landscape.