According to the foreign ministry, there were 216 passengers on board the flight, including 25 French, 184 Afghans "from civil society in need of protection," and seven other international nationals.
On Wednesday, Emmanuel Lenain, France's ambassador to India, twenty-one Indian people were aboard the first French evacuation flight from Kabul. Elite Gurkhas, as per the post, were assuring the safety of this evacuation flight. Taking to Twitter, Lenain said that the first French evacuation flight from Kabul included 21 Indian nationals.
According to the foreign ministry, there were 216 passengers on board the flight, including 25 French, 184 Afghans "from civil society in need of protection," and seven other international nationals.
The first French evacuation flight from yesterday included 21 Indian nationals: the elite Gurkhas who were ensuring security of the French Embassy. 🇫🇷🤝🇮🇳 https://t.co/OxzUYMimTV
— Emmanuel Lenain (@FranceinIndia)France said that it had evacuated over 200 Afghan citizens from Kabul overnight as it ramps up airlifts out of the Afghan capital in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover.
In a tweet, French President Emmanuel Macron said, "Nearly 200 Afghans who worked for France or who are under threat have just been evacuated from Kabul, as well as French and foreign nationals."
Près de 200 Afghans qui ont travaillé pour la France ou qui sont menacés viennent d’être évacués de Kaboul. Ainsi que des Français et des ressortissants étrangers. À nos armées, policiers et équipes diplomatiques qui organisent ces opérations sensibles, merci. On continue. pic.twitter.com/xHSreTLOLI
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron)In a televised address on Monday, Macron said that France would "defend those who are most vulnerable in Afghanistan," while also promising that Europe will put together a "strong" plan to combat illicit migration, particularly people-smuggling networks. On Monday, a first group of 41 French and international nationals landed in France.
In a recent move, the Joe Biden administration has frozen about USD 9.5 billion in Afghan reserves to keep funds away from the Taliban following the country's takeover.
The Taliban has been celebrating its "so-called" success with social media videos showing numerous claimed Taliban frolicking at an amusement park in Herat and riding bumper cars and a merry-go-round.