India evacuates embassy in Kabul
India evacuated its embassy in Kabul this morning amid escalating humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
A special Air Force flight is bringing back the envoy, along with other staff members and ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) troops. The evacuation operation has faced multiple challenges in the last 48 hours as Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan after 20 years on Sunday.
“In view of the prevailing circumstances, it has been decided that our ambassador in Kabul and his Indian staff will move to India immediately (sic),” Arindam Bagchi, Spokesperson, Ministry Of External Affairs, had tweeted this morning.
More than 120 Indian officials were flown out.
India has been facing numerous hurdles in its attempts to bring people back home safely with the security situation deteriorating sharply.
Two aircraft were deployed for the evacuation of the embassy staff on Sunday. The first IAF C-17 aircraft with 45 personnel returned on Monday.
However, with roads and airport operations shutting down on, and chaos unfolding at Kabul airport, the Indian Ambassador in Kabul, other staff members, and ITBP troops could not be brought back earlier.