Amid the intensifying humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, India took a sigh of relief when the Indian Air Force special flight safely evacuated its embassy in Kabul, Indian diplomatic staff, envoy along with other TBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) troops. After facing multiple challenges in the last 48 hours the evacuation operation was successfully conducted as the Taliban has captured entire Afghanistan after 20 years.
"Given the prevailing circumstances, it has been decided that our ambassador in Kabul and his Indian staff will move to India immediately (sic)," this morning Arindam Bagchi, Spokesperson, Ministry Of External Affairs.
Over 120 Indian officials were evicted from Kabul.
India has also announced a new category - ‘e-Emergency X-Misc Visa’, electronic visas for those Afghans who want to take refuge in India.
With the security situation dwindling every hour, India witnessed several obstacles in its attempts to bring back its people home safely.
India deployed two aircraft for the evacuation operation on Sunday, the first being the IAF C-17 aircraft that returned with 45 personnel on Monday. Meanwhile, due to the chaos unfolding in Kabul airport, the Indian Ambassador in Kabul, other staff members, and ITBP troops couldn’t be brought back earlier.
The Kabul airport resumed all operations on Tuesday morning after the US took control over it and the evacuation operation was initiated after thousands of desperate citizens were seen on the tarmac wanting to escape the Taliban rule.
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar in a late-night tweet said he "discussed" the latest unfolding of events in Afghanistan with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and "underlined the urgency of restoring airport operations in Kabul".
Also Read: Over 200 Indians, Including Staff, Still Inside Kabul Embassy: Sources
This conversation may have been the reason behind the successful evacuation of the Indian envoy.
A helpline - 919717785379 and also an email address has been shared by the external ministry to coordinate repatriation.