India Hands Control Of Afghan Consulate In Hyderabad To Taliban Rep
India has quietly handed over control of the Afghan consulate in Hyderabad to a Taliban representative to run the mission, according to a source in the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry.
India has quietly handed over control of the Afghan consulate in Hyderabad to a Taliban representative to run the mission, according to a source in the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry.
The source told Afghanistan International that the handover took place in June, with Mohammad Rahman named as the Taliban’s diplomatic representative at the consulate.
Sayed Mohammad Ibrahimkhil, who served as consul under Afghanistan’s previous government, has been transferred to the Afghan embassy in New Delhi, where he continues to serve as chargé d’affaires.
Indian news agency IANS, citing its own sources, also reported that Rahman has headed the Hyderabad consulate since June 2025. The report noted that in 2024, India similarly handed over the Afghan consulate in Mumbai to Ikramuddin Kamil, another Taliban-appointed diplomat.
An Indian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the appointments indicate the Taliban’s intention to maintain and expand diplomatic engagement with New Delhi. The official added that the group may take control of the Afghan embassy in the Indian capital by the end of the year.
Another source suggested that a high-level Taliban delegation could visit India next month. If the visit proceeds as planned, it could mark a significant step towards deepening India-Taliban relations.
