‘Leave Afghanistan’: India strongly advises its citizens to plan exit

 As violence escalates in trouble-torn Afghanistan, India on Tuesday issued an advisory to its citizens there asking them to make arrangements to leave the country before air services are disrupted. Indian companies have also been asked to withdraw Indian employees immediately.

“All Indian nationals visiting, staying or working in Afghanistan are strongly advised to keep themselves updated on availability of commercial flights… and make immediate travel arrangements to return to India,” the advisory said.  

Also read: ‘Their country, their struggle’: US ‘can’t do much’ as Afghan forces battle Taliban

The Taliban continues to advance in urban centres , claiming to have taken over a sixth provincial capital in four days. The battle between the Taliban and Afghan forces has intensified as the August 31 deadline for the withdrawal of foreign troops approaches.  

Indian companies

The advisory also urged Indian companies to pull out Indian employees from project sites before flights are disrupted. It asked Indians working for foreign companies to seek the help of their employers to leave Afghanistan or contact the Indian embassy.

Mediapersons

In a special note on Indian media persons, the advisory says that they must establish contact with the Public Affairs and Security Wing of the embassy to get a personalised briefing, including advice on which locations to travel to. “This will help them make a better assessment of the risks involved,” it said.

Indian photojournalist, working for Reuters, Danish Siddiqui was killed on June 16 while covering a clash between Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters near a border crossing with Pakistan.

 Mazar-e-Sharif evacuation

India has also decided to evacuate its staff from its consulate in Afghanistan’s Mazar-e-Sharif, reports PTI. The Indian staff of the consulate and a number of Indians residing in and around Mazar-e-Sharif are being evacuated due to the deteriorating security scenario in the city.

 A special aircraft of the Indian Air Force will evacuate the staff and Indian citizens from the fourth-largest city of Afghanistan.

“A special flight is leaving from Mazar-e-Sharif to New Delhi. Any Indian nationals in and around Mazar-e-Sharif are requested to leave for India in the special flight scheduled to depart late today evening,” the Indian consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif tweeted. The Indian citizens have been asked to submit details for the flight.

Also Read | Afghanistan conflict: 27 children killed in last three days, says UN agency

Last month, a similar evacuation was carried out in Kandahar when India pulled out around 50 diplomats and security personnel from its consulate there following intense clashes between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters. A special aircraft of the Indian Air Force was sent to bring back the Indian diplomats, officials and other staff members including a group of Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel.

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

Also Read | ‘Heartbroken’ Afghan interpreters urge UK to rescue them from Taliban killings

Last week, the Ministry of External Affairs said in Lok Sabha that India remained vigilant and is taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of Indians in the conflict-ridden country.

Meanwhile, the US is having conversations with the Pakistani leadership about the need to shutdown the safe havens for Taliban militants along the Afghan-Pakistan border that are providing a source of more insecurity and instability inside Afghanistan, the Pentagon has said. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke over phone with Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. They discussed the current situation in Afghanistan, regional security issues and the bilateral defence ties, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said.