An Afghan diplomat in India, who served as the consul-general for Mumbai, has resigned following reports of her alleged involvement in gold smuggling. The diplomat, who was appointed before the Taliban took control in 2021, faced accusations of attempting to smuggle 25 bricks of gold, each weighing 1 kilogram, from Dubai. Despite being briefly detained at Mumbai's airport, she was not arrested due to her diplomatic immunity.
In her resignation statement, the diplomat expressed regret over the lack of support she received in her role as the only woman in Afghanistan's diplomatic service. She cited organized attacks aimed at tarnishing her reputation and that of her family, which hindered her ability to fulfill her duties effectively.
She highlighted the challenges faced by women in Afghan society, noting the personal attacks and defamation she endured over the past year. The diplomat did not directly address the gold smuggling allegations but emphasized the impact of the negative publicity on her professional responsibilities.
While the Taliban Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the resignation, it remains unclear if the diplomat was indeed the only female representative of Afghanistan. She was appointed during the previous government and was the first Afghan female diplomat to engage with the Taliban.
Following the Taliban's takeover in 2021, the group imposed strict restrictions on women, including barring them from various aspects of public life and limiting their education opportunities. The Taliban's interpretation of Islamic law has led to constraints on women's rights, such as access to work, travel, and healthcare, particularly for those without male guardians.
