News Analysis India

Tag: Indians In Afghanistan

  • Indian envoy to Qatar meets Taliban leaders, concerns addressed against using Afghan soil for terrorism

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Indian envoy to Qatar Deepak Mittal on Tuesday met Taliban leader Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai in Doha, first high-level contact between the two sides on a day the US completed withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan.

    The Ministry of External Affairs said Ambassador Mittal raised India’s concern at the meeting that Afghanistan’s soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and terrorism in any manner.

    It said the discussions focused on safety, security and early return of Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan as well as the travel of Afghan nationals wishing to visit to India.

    ALSO READ | China asks Taliban to make ‘clean break’ with terror groups, form inclusive govt for recognition

    The MEA said the Taliban leader assured the Mittal that these issues would be positively addressed.

    “Today, Ambassador of India to Qatar, Deepak Mittal, met Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, the Head of Taliban’s Political Office in Doha,” the MEA said in a release.

    It said the meeting took place at the Embassy of India, Doha, on the request of the Taliban side.

    “Discussions focused on safety, security and early return of Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan.

    The travel of Afghan nationals, especially minorities, who wish to visit to India also came up,” the MEA said.

    “Ambassador Mittal raised India’s concern that Afghanistan’s soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and terrorism in any manner,” it added.

    ALSO WATCH:

  • Indian envoy to Qatar meets Taliban leaders, says Afghan soil must not be used for terrorism

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Indian envoy to Qatar Deepak Mittal on Tuesday met Taliban leader Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai in Doha, first high-level contact between the two sides on a day the US completed withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan.

    The Ministry of External Affairs said Ambassador Mittal raised India’s concern at the meeting that Afghanistan’s soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and terrorism in any manner.

    It said the discussions focused on safety, security and early return of Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan as well as the travel of Afghan nationals wishing to visit to India.

    ALSO READ | China asks Taliban to make ‘clean break’ with terror groups, form inclusive govt for recognition

    The MEA said the Taliban leader assured the Mittal that these issues would be positively addressed.

    “Today, Ambassador of India to Qatar, Deepak Mittal, met Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, the Head of Taliban’s Political Office in Doha,” the MEA said in a release.

    It said the meeting took place at the Embassy of India, Doha, on the request of the Taliban side.

    “Discussions focused on safety, security and early return of Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan.

    The travel of Afghan nationals, especially minorities, who wish to visit to India also came up,” the MEA said.

    “Ambassador Mittal raised India’s concern that Afghanistan’s soil should not be used for anti-Indian activities and terrorism in any manner,” it added.

    ALSO WATCH:

  • Three Sikh scripture copies, 75 people being flown in from Kabul to India on IAF aircraft 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Three copies of Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib and 75 people, including 46 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus, are being evacuated from war-ravaged Afghanistan on an IAF plane, people coordinating the evacuation efforts with the Indian government said on Monday.

    Nearly 200 more Afghan Sikhs and Hindus are still stranded in Afghanistan, said Puneet Singh Chandhok, president of the Indian World Forum, an organisation coordinating the evacuation efforts with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Air Force (IAF).

    “These people have taken shelter at the Karte Parwan gurdwara in Kabul, which is close to the airport,” he added. Announcing the evacuation flight, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri took to Twitter to say, “Three Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji are being escorted to the IAF aircraft at Kabul Airport. Forty-six Afghan Hindus and Sikhs along with stranded Indian nationals are blessed to return on the same flight.”

    ALSO READ | Centre to brief leaders of political parties on developments in Afghanistan

    “Seventy-five people are on the flight. Three Guru Granth Sahib ji are also being brought to India,” Chandhok said.

    Referring to those still stranded in Kabul, he said the 10-kilometre-long drive to the international airport from the Gurdwara Karte Parwan through various checkpoints is one of the biggest challenges in the rescue efforts.

    Around 100 more Afghan Sikhs and Hindus are likely to be evacuated in a couple of hours, Chandhok added.

    The evacuation of these 46 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus at such a challenging time is a big relief for us, said Manjinder Singh Sirsa, president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, which is also coordinating with the Indian government in the evacuation mission.

    “US security forces escorted these people to the Kabul airport,” he said.

    ALSO WATCH:

    India on Monday brought back 146 citizens on four different flights from Qatar’s capital Doha, days after they were evacuated from Afghanistan by NATO and American aircraft amid the deteriorating security situation in the war-torn country.

    On Sunday, it had evacuated 392 individuals from Kabul on three flights.

    Among them were 24 Afghan Sikhs, including two Afghan MPs — Narinder Singh Khalsa and Anarkali Kaur Honaryar — and their families.

    India is carrying out the evacuation missions in coordination with the US and several other friendly countries.

  • Centre to brief leaders of political parties on developments in Afghanistan

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The government will brief parliamentary leaders of various political parties on the developments in war-torn Afghanistan.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi instructed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to brief the floor leaders of the political parties.

    “In view of developments in Afghanistan, PM @narendramodi has instructed that MEA brief Floor Leaders of political parties. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs @JoshiPralhad will be intimating further details,” Jaishankar tweeted.

    The government’s briefing is expected to focus on its evacuation mission from Afghanistan as well as its assessment of the situation in that country.

    The Taliban swept across Afghanistan this month, seizing control of almost all key towns and cities, including Kabul, following the withdrawal of the US forces from the country.

    In view of developments in Afghanistan, PM @narendramodi has instructed that MEA brief Floor Leaders of political parties.Minister of Parliamentary Affairs @JoshiPralhad will be intimating further details.
    — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 23, 2021
    As part of its evacuation mission from Afghanistan, India has already brought back around 730 people including members of the Afghan Sikh and Hindu communities.

    India on Monday brought back 146 of its nationals in four different flights from Qatar’s capital Doha, days after they were evacuated from Afghanistan by NATO and American aircraft in view of the deteriorating security situation in the war-torn country.

    ALSO WATCH:

    On Sunday, 392 people including two Afghan lawmakers were evacuated in three different flights under the evacuation mission The Taliban seized control of Kabul on August 15.

    Within two days of the Taliban’s capture of Kabul, India had evacuated 200 people, including the Indian envoy and other staffers of its embassy in the Afghan capital.

    The first evacuation flight brought back over 40 people, mostly staffers at the Indian embassy, on August 16.

    The second aircraft evacuated around 150 people including Indian diplomats, officials, security personnel and some stranded Indians from Kabul on August 17.

  • Afghan crisis: India brings back 146 evacuated citizens from Doha 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Monday brought back 146 of its nationals in four different flights from Qatar’s capital Doha, days after they were evacuated from Afghanistan by NATO and American aircraft in view of the deteriorating security situation in the war-torn country.

    People familiar with the development said the Indians were flown back to Delhi as part of India’s mission to evacuate its citizens and Afghan partners from Kabul following its takeover by the Taliban over a week back, they said.

    It was the second batch of Indians to be brought back from Doha after their evacuation from Kabul.

    A total of 135 Indians were flown back to Delhi from Doha in a special flight on Sunday.

    Out of the second batch of Indians who returned home from Doha, 104 people were brought back in a Vistara flight, 30 by a Qatar Airways flight and 11 of them returned by an Indigo flight.

    One person returned by an Air India flight, they said.

    India on Sunday brought back 392 people including two Afghan lawmakers in three different flights under the evacuation mission amid a continued scramble by various countries to rescue their citizens from Kabul.

    The total number of people evacuees included the first batch of 135 Indians who were flown back from Doha.

    It is learnt that the Indians evacuated to Doha from Kabul were employees of a number of foreign companies that were operating in Afghanistan and they were flown out of Kabul by NATO and American aircraft.

    The Taliban seized control of Kabul on August 15.

    Within two days of the Taliban’s capture of Kabul, India evacuated 200 people, including the Indian envoy and other staffers of its embassy in the Afghan capital.

    The first evacuation flight brought back over 40 people, mostly staffers at the Indian embassy, on August 16.

    The second aircraft evacuated around 150 people including Indian diplomats, officials, security personnel and some stranded Indians from Kabul on August 17.

    The Taliban swept across Afghanistan this month, seizing control of almost all key towns and cities, including Kabul, in the backdrop of the withdrawal of the US forces.

  • Afghanistan crisis: India evacuates 168 people from Kabul in IAF’s transport aircraft

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Sunday evacuated 168 people including 107 Indians from Kabul in a military transport aircraft of the IAF amid the deteriorating security situation in the Afghan capital city following its takeover by the Taliban a week back.

    Another group of 87 Indians and two Nepalese nationals who were flown in an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft to the Tajikistan capital of Dushanbe from Kabul on Saturday, arrived in Delhi on Sunday morning, people familiar with the development said.

    They were brought back in a special Air India flight from Dushanbe, they said.

    Separately, a group of 135 Indians, who were earlier evacuated from Kabul to Doha in the last few days by the US and NATO aircraft, also returned to India.

    ALSO READ | Andhra govt sets up helpdesk for stranded citizens

    It is learnt that the Indians evacuated to Doha from Kabul were employees of a number of foreign companies that were operating in Afghanistan.

    “Evacuation continues!IAF special repatriation flight with 168 passengers onboard, including 107 Indian nationals, is on its way to Delhi from Kabul,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.

    It is learnt that a number of prominent Sikh leaders are on board the flight.

    “Bringing Indians home from Afghanistan!AI 1956 carrying 87 Indians departs from Tajikistan for New Delhi. Two Nepalese nationals also evacuated. Assisted and supported by our Embassy @IndEmbDushanbe. More evacuation flights to follow,” Bagchi tweeted at around 1:20 am.

    Bringing Indians home from Afghanistan!AI 1956 carrying 87 Indians departs from Tajikistan for New Delhi. Two Nepalese nationals also evacuated.Assisted and supported by our Embassy @IndEmbDushanbe.More evacuation flights to follow. pic.twitter.com/YMCuJQ7595
    — Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) August 21, 2021

    Evacuation continues!IAF special repatriation flight with 168 passengers onboard, including 107 Indian nationals, is on its way to Delhi from Kabul. pic.twitter.com/ysACxClVdX
    — Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) August 22, 2021
    India evacuated 200 people including the Indian envoy and other staffers of its embassy in Kabul in two C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft of the IAF after the Taliban seized control of Kabul.

    The first evacuation flight brought back over 40 people, mostly staffers at the Indian embassy, on Monday.

    The second C-17 aircraft evacuated around 150 people including Indian diplomats, officials, security personnel and some stranded Indians from Kabul on Tuesday.

    The Taliban swept across Afghanistan this month, seizing control of almost all key towns and cities including Kabul in the backdrop of the withdrawal of the US forces.

    COLUMN | Exit from Kabul: America’s bungle, India’s burden

    The mission to evacuate close to 200 Indians was accomplished with support from the US Following the evacuation, the MEA said the focus now would be to ensure the safe return of all Indian nationals from the Afghan capital.

    The MEA said the immediate priority for the government is to obtain accurate information about all Indian nationals currently staying in Afghanistan.

    It also requested the Indians as well as their employers to urgently share the relevant details with the special Afghanistan cell.

    As per a rough estimate earlier, the number of Indians stranded in Afghanistan could be around 400 and India has been looking at ways to evacuate them including by coordinating with the US and other friendly countries.

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  • Taliban takeover: Jammu and Kashmir LG urges Centre to evacuate Kulgam professors from Kabul

    By ANI

    SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday urged Minister of State for External Affairs of India V Muraleedharan to immediately evacuate Kulgam professors teaching at Bakhtar University in Kabul, informed Office of LG.

    “Spoke to MoS Foreign Affairs, V Muraleedharan for the immediate evacuation of professors from Kulgam teaching at Bakhtar University in Kabul. He has assured the government is committed to bring back every citizen safely as soon as possible,” the Office of Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor said in a tweet.

    Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor further assured the families that they will be home soon.

    “I assure the families of Prof Asif Ahmed and Prof Adil Rasool that they are safe and will be home soon,” it added.

    ALSO READ | IAF’s C-17 aircraft from Kabul lands at Jamnagar with over 100 Indians aboard

    Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force is evacuating Indian officials from Afghanistan.

    According to the sources, 120 Indian officials from Afghanistan has landed in Gujarat’s Jamnagar earlier today.

    The Taliban entered Kabul on Sunday and took control of the presidential palace. Soon after the terror group claimed control over the Afghan capital, several countries evacuated their diplomatic personnel from the country. Hundreds of people flocked to the Kabul airport in an attempt to leave Afghanistan. 

    ALSO WATCH:

  • Taliban crisis: India introduces ‘e-Emergency X-Misc Visa’ in view of current situation in Afghanistan

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Taking cognizance of the current situation in Afghanistan, India has reviewed visa provisions and introduced a new category of electronic visa called “e-Emergency X-Misc Visa” with an aim to fast-track visa applications for entry into India.

    Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the nodal ministry to handle visa-related issues, took the decision and made the announcement on Tuesday, two days after the Taliban’s stunning and rapid takeover of Afghanistan.

    MHA reviews visa provisions in view of the current situation in #Afghanistan. A new category of electronic visa called “e-Emergency X-Misc Visa” introduced to fast-track visa applications for entry into India. @NewIndianXpress@TheMornStandard
    — Sana Shakil (@sanashakil_TNIE) August 17, 2021
    “MHA reviews visa provisions in view of the current situation in Afghanistan. A new category of electronic visa called “e-Emergency X-Misc Visa” introduced to fast-track visa applications for entry into India,” MHA Spokesperson said in a statement.

    ALSO READ | Resurgence of Taliban will embolden terrorists in Kashmir, say experts

    As many Indians are stuck in Afghanistan, India’s decision to ease out and cut short visa application process seems to be very helpful in providing quick help to the needy.

    Taliban terrorists are assuming control of the Afghan capital of Kabul and have taken control of the presidential palace after the country’s president Ashraf Ghani left for Tajikistan on Sunday.

    Later, several countries evacuated their diplomatic personnel from the country, and hundreds of people flocked to the Kabul airport in an attempt to leave Afghanistan.

    ALSO WATCH:

  • Make immediate plans for return: India’s advice to its citizens in Afghan in view of escalating violence

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday strongly advised all its citizens residing in Afghanistan to make immediate travel arrangements to return home before commercial air services are discontinued from the country in view of massive spike in violence.

    In a fresh advisory, the Indian embassy in Kabul also advised the Indian companies operating in Afghanistan to immediately withdraw their Indian employees out of project sites before air travel services from the country is discontinued.

    The embassy asked Indian nationals working for Afghan or foreign companies in Afghanistan to immediately request their employers to facilitate their travel from project sites to India in view of the ground situation.

    ALSO READ | India evacuating staff from consulate in Afghanistan’s Mazar-e-Sharif amid Taliban violence

    It said the security advisory issued on June 29 and July 24 remained valid.

    “Further, as violence in many parts of Afghanistan has escalated, commercial air travel services to many provinces and cities are getting discontinued,” the embassy said.

    “All Indian nationals visiting, staying and working in Afghanistan are strongly advised to keep themselves updated on the availability of commercial flights from various parts of Afghanistan and make immediate travel arrangements to return to India before commercial air services are discontinued to their place of stay/visit in Afghanistan,” it added.

    According to government data, around 1,500 Indians are currently staying in Afghanistan.

    ALSO READ | Thousands flee as Taliban eye full control of northern Afghanistan

    “Indian companies operating in Afghanistan are strongly advised to immediately withdraw their Indian employees out of project sites in Afghanistan before air travel services get discontinued,” the embassy said.

    “Indian nationals working for Afghan or foreign companies in Afghanistan should immediately request their employer to facilitate their travel from project sites to India,” it said.

    The embassy said the advisory is applicable for Indian journalists who are in Afghanistan to cover the latest development.

    “It is very essential that all Indian media persons arriving/staying in Afghanistan to establish contact with Public Affairs and Security Wing of the Embassy for a personalized briefing, including specific advice for the location they are traveling to,” it said.