New Delhi: In the backdrop of the deteriorating security situation in Kabul following the Taliban occupation of Afghanistan, India on Sunday airlifted around 400 people, including 329 of its citizens and two Afghan lawmakers, through three flights as part of its efforts to evacuate its citizens from the Afghan capital. brought back to the country. A total of 168 people, including 107 Indians and 23 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus, were brought from Kabul to Hindon Air Force Base near Delhi by Indian Air Force’s C-19 military transport aircraft.
Another group of 87 Indians and two Nepalese nationals were brought back by a special Air India flight from Dushanbe, officials said. A day before this, he was taken to Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, by an Indian Air Force aircraft. Meanwhile, a group of 135 people who were taken from Kabul to Doha in the last few days by US and NATO aircraft was brought from Doha to Delhi by a special aircraft. India coordinated with the US, Qatar, Tajikistan, and many other friendly countries to drive out people from Afghanistan. Officials aware of the evacuation operation said that the group of 168 people brought from Kabul included Afghan MPs Anarkali Honnarayar and Narendra Singh Khalsa and their families.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted hours before the plane landed in Hindon, “Evacuation of Indians is underway. 168 passengers, including 107 citizens of India, are being brought from Kabul to Delhi by special aircraft of the Indian Air Force. It is being told that the Indians brought from Kabul to Doha are employees of many foreign companies based in Afghanistan. Bagchi tweeted late at around 1.20 pm, “Indians are being brought back from Afghanistan. AI1956 aircraft is bringing a total of 87 Indians from Tajikistan to New Delhi. Two Nepalese nationals are also being brought.
The Embassy of India in Dushanbe assisted in this. More flights will be arranged to evacuate people.” India has already evacuated 200 people, including the Indian ambassador and other embassy personnel, from the Afghan capital by two Air Force C-19 transport planes after the Taliban captured Kabul last Sunday. On Monday, the first flight carrying more than 40 Indians reached India. The second C-17 aircraft with around 150 people, including Indian diplomats, officials, and security personnel, and some Indians stranded there, reached India on Tuesday.
In the backdrop of the withdrawal of US troops, the Taliban has rapidly expanded their foothold in Afghanistan this month, capturing most of the area, including the capital Kabul. After the return of these people, the Ministry of External Affairs had said that now the focus will be on ensuring the safe return of all Indian citizens from the capital of Afghanistan. The Ministry of External Affairs said that the immediate priority for the government is to obtain accurate information about all Indian nationals currently residing in Afghanistan. The ministry has requested Indians as well as their employers to immediately share the relevant details with the Special Afghanistan Cell. According to an estimate, about 400 Indians may be trapped in Afghanistan and India is trying to evacuate them and for this, it is working in coordination with the US and other friendly nations.
