Thanking Indian Air Force, who evacuated a batch of diplomats, and officials from Kabul on Tuesday, Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan, Rudrendra Tandon said that they have not abandoned people of Afghanistan and their welfare. He added, “We’ll try & continue our interaction with them, I can’t exactly say in what form as situation is changing.”

An Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft flew from Hamid Karzai International (HKI) Airport around 8 AM (Kabul Time) with the help of US forces manning the ATC. The evacuation took place two days after the Taliban took over Kabul city. 

Taking to reporters in Gujarat’s Jamnagar, Tandon said that Air India had to temporarily suspend its commercial services as the conditions were not favourable at Kabul airport. “However, we continue to ensure that anyone who is stuck there is somehow brought here for which the MEA has opened a help desk that is operating already,” he added.

The Indian diplomat said there were many others who continue to work in Kabul city, despite the changing situation and have changed their mind subsequently and will be brought back when the commercial services begin.

In Pics | Satellite images show chaos at Kabul airport

Meanwhile, in its first official communication after storming to power in Afghanistan, the Taliban on Tuesday declared an “amnesty” across the country and urged women to join its government. Kabul on Monday witnessed chaos with  thousands of Afghans rushing into Kabul’s main airport, some so desperate to escape the Taliban that they held onto a military jet as it took off and plunged to their deaths. At least seven people died in the chaos.

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“The Islamic Emirate doesn’t want women to be victims” Enamullah Samangani, a member of the Taliban’s cultural commission, said, adding, “they should be in government structure according to Shariah law,” reports AP.

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News agency AFP reported that Taliban had also offered a general amnesty. “A general amnesty has been declared for all… so you should start your routine life with full confidence,” said a statement from the Taliban, according to the agency.

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The Taliban started taking over territories soon after the US troops left the country and rapidly advanced, entering Kabul on August 15. That they would take the country was known, but the pace caught many by surprise. President Ashraf Ghani fled the country as soon as the militant force reached the outskirts of capital Kabul.

The Afghan army, which was built and trained over two-decades at the cost of $83 billion, fell like ninepins — in some cases without a shot fired. The Taliban grabbed not only political power but also US-supplied firepower — guns, ammunition, helicopters and more.