AMN
Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan says the union government is committed to the safe evacuation of Indian nationals stranded in Afghanistan. Speaking to media persons in Kochi this evening, the Minister said the focus now will be to evacuate those who have expressed their desire to return and have contacted the helpline numbers of the External Affairs Ministry.
Earlier, the Minister flagged off the Digital Van Awareness Campaign on Covid Vaccination and Covid Appropriate Behaviour organised by the Field Outreach Bureau, Ernakulam.
IAF special repatriation flight brings back 168 people from Kabul
AMN
An Indian Air Force special repatriation flight with 168 people including 107 Indian nationals today landed at Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad from Kabul. Afghanistan Member of Parliament, Narinder Singh Khalsa, who has been evacuated in the flight spoke about the current situation.
Earlier, the first batch of 135 Indians who were evacuated from Afghanistan’s Kabul to Doha over the past days were repatriated to India last night. Indian Embassy in Doha, Qatar provided consular and logistical assistance to ensure safe return.
In a tweet, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that an Air India flight carrying 87 Indians departed from Tajikistan for New Delhi last night. Two Nepalese nationals were also evacuated. He added that more evacuation flights will follow.
India is airlifting its nationals through Dushanbe in Tajikistan and Qatar. Indian Air Force has already evacuated around 180 passengers including India’s Ambassador to Afghanistan. The External Affairs Ministry has urged all Indian nationals in Afghanistan requiring assistance to contact its Special Afghanistan Cell immediately. It has set up the Special Afghanistan Cell to coordinate repatriation and other requests from Afghanistan.