Tawqeer Hussain
India Saturday evacuated around 50 diplomats and security personnel in an Indian Air Force aircraft after the Taliban fighters make inroads in the southern city in Afghanistan.
“..Due to the intense fighting near Kandahar city, India-based personnel has been brought back for the time being. I want to emphasize that this is a purely temporary measure until the situation stabilizes. The Consulate continues to operate through our local staff members,” India’s foreign ministry said in a statement without giving the number of persons brought back.
“Arrangements are being made to ensure continued delivery of visa and consular services through our Embassy in Kabul,” the statement added.
“As an important partner of Afghanistan’s, India remains committed to a peaceful, sovereign and democratic Afghanistan.”
Sources in the Indian Government told News Bridge, that ‘the threat was imminent, and Government didn’t want to take any chances, “adding “We are closely monitoring the situation and other decisions will be taken after the threat analysis”.
Kandahar, the second-largest city in Afghanistan served as the headquarters of the Taliban from the mid-1990s till 2001, when the group was ousted from power by the US invasion in 2001.
Taliban has been regaining its strength in Afghanistan with the group on Friday claimed to have control over 85 percent of Afghanistan, including a key border crossing with Iran.
India has expressed concerns over the growing violence at various international forums and has been pushing for a peaceful resolution. Afghanistan was the major subject of discussion during the External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent visit to Tehran and Moscow.
