Afghanistan’s de facto consulate in Mumbai started issuing Afghan passports on Monday, the Islamic Emirate’s representative in Delhi said in a post on X.

The unofficial consulate said passports will be issued by them “to meet the needs of Afghan citizens.”

This announcement comes amid reports by various Indian news outlets that Delhi is considering accepting an Islamic Emirate representative, named Ikramuddin Kamil, as official envoy to Mumbai.

According to reports, Kamil recently arrived in India on a regular passport and not a diplomatic one.

The Afghan ministry of foreign affairs meanwhile said that the decision to issue passports to Afghans in India comes on the back of a decree issued by the Islamic Emirate’s Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.

According to the ministry, it has directed the Mumbai office “to handle the process of distribution of passports to meet the needs of Afghan refugees, students and businessmen.”

The Indian government is considering accepting the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s (IEA) request to officially post a diplomatic representative to the consulate in Mumbai.

Indian media reported Monday that the representative has already been selected and is currently working out of the Mumbai consulate. He does not however have a diplomatic passport, reports read.

According to the reports, the IEA’s representative is Ikramuddin Kamil, who previously studied in India.

If the request is accepted, the move would be a significant step towards formalizing diplomatic ties between the two countries.

No country has yet officially recognized the Islamic Emirate government but some regional countries have accepted Kabul diplomats.

A small “technical” team of Indian officials have meanwhile been working in Kabul for a few months.

Malala Yousafzai, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and an activist for the right to education for girls and women, says the international community should stand up for the rights of Afghan women.

Malala Yousafzai said in an interview with Sky News on Saturday that she has started efforts to support women's rights in Afghanistan in accordance with international laws.

Malala says that leaders need to work for the rights of Afghan girls and women.

However, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, has repeatedly rejected claims about women’s rights being violated and has said their rights are ensured in accordance with Sharia law.