50 Indians returned home from war-torn Afghanistan today
India has temporarily shut down its Mazar-e-Sharif Consulate General office in northern Afghanistan, which is witnessing heavy fighting between the security forces and the Taliban.
FollowFifty Indian nationals, including diplomats, have been brought to New Delhi from Mazar-e-Sharif amid a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.
India has temporarily shut down its Mazar-e-Sharif Consulate General office in northern Afghanistan, which is witnessing heavy fighting between the security forces and the Taliban.
As per the sources, a special flight comprising of 50 Indians have landed in New Delhi on Wednesday morning.
Prior to India issuing the advisory asking its nationals to leave the country, the United States and the United Kingdom had also evacuated their citizens.
Indian Consulate General in Mazar-e-Sharif had on Tuesday alerted that a special flight would be leaving for New Delhi and that any Indian nationals in the vicinity should board the aircraft.
There was also a third security advisory issued by India.
The Indian Embassy in Afghanistan advised the Indians to keep themselves updated on the availability of commercial flights and make immediate arrangements to return to India before the air services are discontinued.
The embassy also asked the Indian firms operating in Afghanistan to urgently pull their Indian employees out of projects in the country. As for Indians employed with foreign firms, the embassy asked them to request their employer to facilitate their travel from the project sites to India.
It has also asked the Indian media personnel in the country to establish contact with the Public Affairs and Security Wing of the Embassy for a personalized briefing, including specific advice for the location they are travelling to.
As per the reports, over 1500 Indians are engaged in different kinds of works in the war-ravaged country. After the US and the NATO troops returned home, the Taliban have made advances in several provinces of southern and western Afghanistan.
In an effort to make the Afghan peace process smooth, Russia-led Extended Troika -- also including the US, Pakistan and China -- will meet today in Qatar. On August 12, India has also been invited to an Afghanistan Regional Conference Meet at Doha.
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