An Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft on Tuesday morning brought back 120 Indian officials, including the last of the Indian embassy staff, ITBP personnel and four media persons, from the Kabul airport.
Indian Ambassador Rudrendra Tandon and other staff members were onboard the flight from Kabul. The plane with the Indian officials landed in Gujarat's Jamnagar at around 11 am.
"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 said.
In view of the prevailing circumstances, it has been decided that our Ambassador in Kabul and his Indian staff will move to India immediately.
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) August 17, 2021
Kabul airport was reopened for evacuation operations on Tuesday morning by the American agencies.
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How Indians were evacuated from Kabul
As part of efforts to evacuate its officials and staffers from Afghanistan, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Monday evening spoke with his American counterpart Jake Sullivan for a smooth evacuation of Indians from there.
Top government sources told India Today TV that Ajit Doval had a long conversation with the American NSA Jake Sullivan regarding the evacuation which had become 'difficult' due to the lack of clarity about authorities on ground.
It was after the conversation that the Indian officials were taken inside the secure American zone at the Kabul airport last night from where they took off this morning, sources said.
The National Security Council has been working towards smooth exit of Indian citizens and officials from Afghanistan in coordination with other authorities and has also been coordinating the special military flights going to Kabul. The Americans have taken over the airport and have helped the Indians also to leave from there, sources said.
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India introduces 'e-Emergency X-Misc Visa' for Afghans
The Ministry of Home Affairs said that it is reviewing visa provisions in view of the current situation in Afghanistan. A new category of electronic visa called "e-Emergency X-Misc Visa" has been introduced to fast-track visa applications for entry into India.
"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.
Thousands of people desperate to flee Afghanistan thronged Kabul's airport on Monday after the Taliban seized the capital.
The Taliban swept into Kabul on Sunday after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, bringing an end to a two-decade campaign in which the US and its allies had tried to transform Afghanistan.
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