Explained: Why is there delay in evacuating more Indians stranded in Afghanistan?

An IAF official told Asianet Newsable that the mission to evacuate Indians stranded in Afghanistan is still far from over. 

Indian Air Force, which has been assigned the responsibility of evacuating stranded Indians in Afghanistan, is unable to coordinate the rescue operation ever since the Taliban seized power in the war-torn country. 

An Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft is parked at the Kabul airport but in the absence of coordination with the Indians on the ground, the evacuation process is getting delayed. 

An IAF official told Asianet Newsable that the mission to evacuate Indians stranded in Afghanistan is still far from over. 

The operation will be on till it gets completed, the official said without divulging more details.

Talking to Asianet Newsable, Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee President Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, "A total of 320 Hindus and Sikhs are in a Gurudwara Karte Parwan Sahib in Kabul and its adjoining areas. The Gurudwara Committee is looking after them for everything. We are in touch with the government here and the Gurudwara committee in Kabul. Things are progressing."

He, however, did not specify when the stranded group of Indians would fly back to India.

On Tuesday, India had evacuated its diplomatic staff from Kabul in the wake of the deteriorating situation in the city.

So far, the Indian Air Force has brought back around 180 Indians from Kabul. 

The External Affairs Ministry informed that the embassy is still functioning with local staff. However, the mission is being guarded by the Taliban. As per the sources, the local staff do not turn up at the embassy due to the fear of armed Taliban militia. This has resulted in problems in coordination on the ground. 

Over 7,000 US forces are guarding the Kabul airport and the Air Traffic Control system is also being managed by them. Outside the airport, the entire city has been seized by the Taliban.