The Indian Air Force (IAF) has evacuated around 50 Indian consulate staffers and security personnel from Mazar-e-Sharif, on August 11-August 12, a few days before the terrorist group captured the national capital.
These Indian citizens were evacuated through special transport aircraft by IAF and the Indian citizens included civilian officials working in the Indian consulate there along with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police officials (ITBP) deployed there for the security of the facility.
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Sources told media agency ANI, “An Indian Air Force aircraft had taken off from the Hindan airbase near Delhi and landed in Mazar after avoiding flying over Pakistan air space. The aircraft then picked up the Indian officials and landed back safely on August 11-12.”
Earlier as well, India had brought its consulate staff from Kandhar, some days before the Taliban took over the town. Later, the Indian officials were shifted to Kabul from Kandhar and were working from there, the sources informed.
After the Afghan capital was under Taliban terrorists, the Indian Air Force operated two sorties of the C-17 Globemaster, after getting clearance from the US Force at Kabul airport. This time around 180 officials, ITBP staffers and a few journalists safely landed in India.
A top source informed, “The US security forces are controlling the Kabul airport and after the conversation between the two NSAs, the Indian contingent was taken inside the American security zone at the airport from where they took off this morning.”
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It further said that due to the ground situation in Kabul, the exit of Indian was a bit difficult and took time but at last everything was arranged.
For now, one more Air Force plane is waiting to get permission from the Taliban and the US forces to bring the Indians who are still there. A government source informed that an Air Force plane and a commercial plane are on standby and are waiting for the green signal to bring Indians back home.