The second batch of the Indian Air Force C-17 heavy-lift aircraft carrying Indian diplomats, officials and journalists from Kabul has landed safely in Gujarat's Jamnagar.
The IAF aircraft took off from the Hamid Karzai International Airport at around 8 am, Kabul time, helped by the US troops brewing the ATC.
Rudrendra Tandon - Indian ambassador to Afghanistan was on the flight along with 120 other diplomats and officials.
Conducting the evacuation was successful after 24 hours long negotiations and facing multiple hurdles.
The IAF aircraft is believed to reach Delhi by 1 pm. The first batch of stranded Indians from Kabul reached India on Sunday via Air India flight.
India now awaits the signal from the US forces to permit the operation of civilian flights to Kabul for further evacuation.
Without any commands in Kabul, the Indian ministry of external affairs (MEA) and security officials began gathering evacuees to the HKI airport from Monday. Meanwhile, negotiations were underway with the Taliban guarding the 15 check posts from the Indian mission in Kabul to the international airport.
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Apparently, two C-17s were kept on stand-by so that officials could be evaluated immediately after the US forces barricaded ATC gave clearance.
Sources based in Kabul, a deal with the Turkish forces were supposed to man the HKI airport but the withdrawal of Ankara at the very last minute led to the confusion there, with local staff leaving the ATC and other positions.
Having no hands-on experience of manning the air traffic services, it was then left to the US to take control.
Following the chaos had led to the death of desperate Afghans at the HKI airport as the civilians feared danger to their lives from the Taliban. It was after the chaos that the US decided to stop civilian flights from Kabul on Monday and allow only military flights to operate.
Other stranded Indians will be evacuated from Afghanistan once the HKI airport is opened to civilian flights.
Also Read: India evacuates envoy, diplomatic staff from Kabul safely
“In view of the prevailing circumstances, it has been decided that our Ambassador in Kabul and his Indian staff will move to India immediately,” Mr Arindam Bagchi, Spokesperson from the External Ministry tweeted.
Earlier on Monday, Mr Bagchi said that the situation in Afghanistan is being monitored. The ministry has also set up an ‘Afghanistan Cell’ to coordinate repatriation and related matters. A helpline number and email address have also been shared by the external ministry to coordinate repatriation.