In the times of Crisis over Afghanistan and the current emergency state, 45 Indians were rescued by IAF. Around 200 Indians are still stranded in Kabul and are facing horrific situation. More such evacuations are planned. Including foreign ministry staff and paramilitary soldiers tasked with their protection, remain in the Indian mission in the Afghanistan capital.
Above 200 Indians Awaits the Evacuation
A C-17 evacuation flight returned this afternoon in New Delhi with personnel and equipment, according to a latest report. Sources had earlier informed that above 200 Indians, including some 100 personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, are waiting to be evacuated from Afghanistan under India’s Kabul mission.
Taliban Enforced a Curfew in the City
Taliban have enforced a curfew in the city. The Afghan airspace has been closed to commercial flights after thousands of desperate people overran the tarmac and created a ruckus just after a day after the Taliban took control of the city.
Taliban Took Over Afghanistan and Kabul’s President Left the Country
The Taliban is now in full control of Afghanistan after its capital Kabul fell over and President Ashraf Ghani left the country. Taliban seized city after city before reaching Kabul on Sunday afternoon. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has already left the country. Ghani has reportedly fled to the neighboring Tajikistan.
The Cabinet Secretary is meeting with Foreign Ministry officials to work out the evacuation plan, which is already in place and is under discussion.
Also Read: Taliban’s Rapid Gains Continue, Province 70 km from Kabul Falls, President Ghani Addresses Nation
Punjab CM: 200 Sikh Stranded In a Gurudwara In Afghanistan
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said that close to 200 Sikhs are also stranded at a Gurudwara in Afghanistan.
He urged the Indian government to evacuate all Indians from the country. He tweeted that, “Urge @DrSJaishankar, MEA, GoI, to arrange for immediate evacuation of all Indians…My govt. is willing to extend any help needed to ensure their safe evacuation.”
Check the tweet here:
Urge @DrSJaishankar, MEA, GoI, to arrange for immediate evacuation of all Indians, including around 200 Sikhs, stuck in a Gurudwara in Afghanistan after the #Taliban takeover. My govt is willing to extend any help needed to ensure their safe evacuation. @MEAIndia
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) August 16, 2021
Also Read: Man, Woman Set Themselves on Fire Outside Supreme Court; Reasons Unknown Hours After Incident
Afghanistan’s Airspace Closed Down
Fingers are pointed towards Indian Government for the mission that why the people were not evacuated in the last three-four days when the situation on the ground was changing fast?
With Afghanistan’s airspace closed, Air India flights coming from the US are likely to be re-routed, sources said. Flights AI-126 (Chicago-New Delhi) and AI-174 (San Francisco-New Delhi) will have to be re-routed to a Gulf nation to refuel, adding Air India is also working on new routes for flights that will depart later from India to the US.
Five people were killed at Kabul airport today, but it’s unclear whether they died in firing or stampede. The sudden and quick collapse of the government, with terrorists taking over the presidential palace on Sunday night triggered the panic and fear in the residents of Kabul.
Also Read: Chaos Erupts at Kabul Airport as Locals Scramble to Flee a Taliban Captured Afghanistan
