Women diplomat : An Afghan diplomat in India, who was appointed before the Taliban seized power in 2021 and said she was the only woman in the country’s diplomatic service, has resigned after reports emerged of her being detained for allegedly smuggling gold.
Afghanistan’s Only Woman Diplomat Zakia Wardak Resigns Amid Gold Smuggling Allegations in India
Zakia Wardak, the Afghan consul-general for Mumbai, announced her resignation on her official account on the social media platform X on Saturday after Indian media reported last week that she was briefly detained at the city’s airport on allegations of smuggling 25 bricks of gold, each weighing 1kg (2.2 pounds), from Dubai.
According to Indian media reports, she has not been arrested because of her diplomatic immunity.
In a statement, Wardak made no mention of her reported detention or gold smuggling allegations but said, “I am deeply sorry that as the only woman present in Afghanistan’s diplomatic apparatus, instead of receiving constructive support to maintain this position, I faced waves of organised attacks aimed at destroying me.”
“Over the past year, I have encountered numerous personal attacks and defamation not only directed towards myself but also towards her close family and extended relatives,” she added.
Wardak said the attacks have “severely impacted my ability to effectively operate in my role and have demonstrated the challenges faced by women in Afghan society”.
The Taliban foreign ministry did not immediately return calls for comment on Wardak’s resignation.
It was not immediately possible to confirm whether she was the country’s only woman diplomat.
Wardak was appointed consul-general of Afghanistan in Mumbai during the former government and was the first Afghan woman diplomat to collaborate with the Taliban.
FAQ’S : Women diplomat
- What is the background of Zakia Wardak?
- Zakia Wardak is an Afghan diplomat who served as the consul-general for Mumbai in India.
- What allegations were made against Zakia Wardak?
- Zakia Wardak was accused of attempting to smuggle 25 bricks of gold, each weighing 1kg, from Dubai into India.
- Was Zakia Wardak detained for the alleged gold smuggling?
- Yes, reports emerged that Zakia Wardak was briefly detained at Mumbai’s airport on allegations of gold smuggling.
- Did Zakia Wardak resign from her position?
- Yes, Zakia Wardak announced her resignation from her position as the Afghan consul-general for Mumbai.
- What was the reason behind Zakia Wardak’s resignation?
- While she did not directly address the gold smuggling allegations, Zakia Wardak mentioned facing organized attacks aimed at destroying her and her family, which severely impacted her ability to operate effectively in her role.
- What did Zakia Wardak’s statement focus on?
- Zakia Wardak’s statement primarily highlighted the challenges faced by women in Afghan society and the personal attacks and defamation she encountered during her tenure.
- Did the Taliban foreign ministry comment on Zakia Wardak’s resignation?
- No, the Taliban foreign ministry did not immediately provide any comments regarding Zakia Wardak’s resignation.
- Was Zakia Wardak the only woman diplomat in Afghanistan’s diplomatic service?
- It is unclear whether Zakia Wardak was the only woman diplomat in Afghanistan’s diplomatic service.
- What role did Zakia Wardak serve in the former Afghan government? Zakia Wardak was appointed as consul-general of Afghanistan in Mumbai during the former government.
- Was Zakia Wardak the first Afghan woman diplomat to collaborate with the Taliban?
- Yes, Zakia Wardak was noted as the first Afghan woman diplomat to collaborate with the Taliban.
- What impact did Zakia Wardak’s resignation have on her role?
- Zakia Wardak mentioned that the organized attacks and defamation she faced severely impacted her ability to operate effectively in her role.
- Did Zakia Wardak face personal attacks during her tenure?
- Yes, Zakia Wardak stated that she encountered numerous personal attacks and defamation directed towards herself and her family during her tenure.
- What was the response to Zakia Wardak’s allegations of gold smuggling?
- The response to Zakia Wardak’s allegations of gold smuggling was not explicitly mentioned in the provided information.
- How did Zakia Wardak address the challenges faced by women in Afghan society?
- Zakia Wardak highlighted the challenges faced by women in Afghan society through her personal experiences and the attacks she encountered during her tenure.
- Was Zakia Wardak arrested for the alleged gold smuggling?
- No, Zakia Wardak was not arrested due to her diplomatic immunity.
- What was the reaction to Zakia Wardak’s resignation?
- The reaction to Zakia Wardak’s resignation was not explicitly mentioned in the provided information.
- Was there any confirmation regarding the allegations against Zakia Wardak?
- There was no immediate confirmation regarding the allegations against Zakia Wardak.
- What was the significance of Zakia Wardak’s role as a woman diplomat in Afghanistan?
- Zakia Wardak’s role as a woman diplomat in Afghanistan was significant as it highlighted the representation of women in diplomatic positions in the country.
- Did Zakia Wardak mention any plans following her resignation?
- Zakia Wardak did not mention any specific plans following her resignation in the provided information.
- What was the duration of Zakia Wardak’s tenure as consul-general for Mumbai?
- The duration of Zakia Wardak’s tenure as consul-general for Mumbai was not specified in the provided information.