Afghan diplomat resigns after charge of gold smuggling

Zakia Wardak, who was sent to India as the consul general in Mumbai three years ago and had been functioning as acting ambassador in New Delhi since late last year, said in a statement posted on X that she was stepping down because “numerous personal attacks and defamation” had “severely impacted my ability to effectively operate in my role”.

The statement, posted in Dari, Pashto & English, made no mention of reports that she was stopped by officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Mumbai airport on April 25 while returning from Dubai and found to be allegedly carrying 25 one-kilogram gold bars worth more than ₹18 crore.

Since Wardak was travelling on a diplomatic passport issued by the erstwhile Afghan government led by Ashraf Ghani, she wasn’t arrested. People familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity that she was questioned for more than 12 hours after gold bars were found hidden in pockets sewn into her jacket and a waist belt.