Kabul: Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government has expelled senior Indian diplomat Harish Kumar from the country.
According to Afghan media reports, Kumar was accused of holding meetings with groups opposing the Taliban and attempting to organize them.
Sources told Afghan outlets that Harish Kumar was declared “persona non grata” and ordered to leave Kabul on August 17.
Kumar had been serving as an Indian diplomat and intelligence officer in Kabul since the fall of the former Afghan government.
On August 16, Taliban officials summoned staff from the Indian Embassy to inform them of the decision to expel Kumar.
He departed for New Delhi the following day. The Indian Embassy has not yet issued any comment on the matter.
Over the years, Afghan and regional media have occasionally reported concerns about certain Indian diplomats in Afghanistan engaging in activities viewed as beyond standard diplomatic practice.
These reports—often citing unnamed security sources—have included allegations of informal meetings with political factions, intelligence gathering, and outreach to groups opposed to the Taliban.
While India has consistently denied any interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs, such claims have surfaced during periods of heightened tension, particularly after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
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Analysts note that these suspicions reflect the broader rivalry and shifting alliances in the region rather than confirmed evidence, and no independent investigations have publicly verified the allegations.
