Afghan Consul General In Mumbai, Caught Smuggling Gold, Resigns Alleging ‘Personal Attacks’

New Delhi: Days after being caught while allegedly trying to smuggle 25 kg of gold worth about Rs 18 crore into India from Dubai, Zakia Wardak, Afghanistan’s Consul General in Mumbai, stepped down from the post, effective Sunday, alleging “personal attacks and defamation”.

Zakia, who was the seniormost Afghan diplomat in India, blamed a “public narrative unfairly targeting the only female representative within this system” in a statement announcing her decision to quit.

“Over the past year, I have encountered numerous personal attacks and defamation not only directed towards me but also towards my close family and extended relatives,” she claimed.

She added that these attacks, “which appear to be organised,” have severely impacted her ability to effectively operate in her role and demonstrated the challenges faced by women in Afghan society who strive to modernise and bring positive change amidst ongoing propaganda campaigns.

“The persistent and coordinated nature of these attacks, aimed at defaming my character and undermining my efforts, have surpassed a tolerable threshold. It has become increasingly clear that the public narrative is unfairly targeting the only female representative within this system, rather than focusing on constructive assistance and support,” the diplomat alleged.

Zakia, wo contested in the 2018 Afghan parliamentary elections, was intercepted with the gold by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence at Mumbai airport a week ago.

The gold was seized and a case registered, but Zakia was not arrested as she enjoys diplomatic immunity.