India to fly back envoy from Afghanistan today, Indians in secure area

India on Tuesday decided to bring back its ambassador in Kabul, along with other staff, as the situation quickly deteriorated in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover of the country. The central Asian nation plunged into turmoil soon after the US forces decided to leave the country after two decades, with Taliban advancing quickly and government forces giving in without a fight. 

“In view of the prevailing circumstances, it has been decided that our Ambassador in Kabul and his Indian staff will move to India immediately,” MEA spokesperson MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted.

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On Monday, India had evacuated 45 citizens from the trouble-torn country on an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft. The flight was carried back to New Delhi personnel and equipment, according to an ANI report. NDTV, quoting sources, reported that more than 200 Indians, including some 100 personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, were waiting for evacuation from India’s Kabul mission. 

Quoting sources, news agency ANI has reported that several Indians, wanting to be repatriated to India, were in a secure area and would be brought back home safely in a day or two.

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Flight operations were briefly suspended on Sunday after the Kabul airport plunged into chaos with thousands of Afghans storming the tarmac and jostling to get into planes. Five people wer killed. 

New Delhi has also initiated an emergency electronic visa programme called “e-Emergency X-Misc Visa” to fast-track visa applications for entry into India, the spokesperson said.

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This came after the Ministry reviewed visa provisions, ANI quoted a spokesperson as saying, as thousands of Afghans are attempting to flee the country in the face of a new Taliban regime. 

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan, advancing rapidly as President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. The Taliban took over the presidential palace on Sunday night, triggering fear and panic in Kabul.