All Indian Embassy Officials Successfully Rescued from Afghanistan
All Indian diplomats and personnel from the embassy in Kabul have been rescued. On August 15 two Indian Air Force C-17 flew into Kabul.
All Indian diplomats and personnel from the embassy in Kabul have been rescued. On August 15 two Indian Air Force C-17 flew into Kabul.
The rescue operations were carried out under dangerous circumstances. Initially, the Taliban prevented the personnel to move out from the Embassy compound.
While the 45 personnel were heading to the airport, they were stopped by Taliban sentries. A few personal belongings of the personnel were taken away by the Taliban.
#WATCH | Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft that took off from Kabul, Afghanistan with Indian officials, lands in Jamnagar, Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/1w3HFYef6b
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2021
The first evacuation was extremely difficult as thousands of Afghans arrived at the airport with the hope of fleeing their country. Despite the challenges, all 45 personnel were successfully evacuated in the first IAF aircraft yesterday.
Afghans are trying to fly out of #Kabul, clinging to the fuselage og American C-17 Globemaster.
— Anonymous Operations (@AnonOpsSE) August 16, 2021
Beginning of a sad story. #AfghanistanCrisis #TalibanTakeover pic.twitter.com/jBrLjEwUSZ
The Indian embassy was under observation by the Taliban and the Green Zone had been breached. Most of the embassies are present at the Green Zone. The Shahir Visa Agency which processes visas for Afghans who intend to travel to India was also raided by them.
In a tweet, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “In view of the prevailing circumstances, it has been decided that our Ambassador in Kabul and his Indian staff will move to India immediately.”
The remaining 120 members including Ambassador Rudrendra Tandon, who boarded the second IAF C-17 safely landed in Jamnagar, Gujarat today.
There are still many Indians who are yet to evacuate Afghanistan.