An Indian Air Force (IAF) transport aircraft on Saturday took off from Kabul with 85 Indians, as part of the evacuation process that commenced after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, ANI reported.
“An Indian Air Force C-130J transport aircraft took off from Kabul with over 85 Indians. The aircraft landed in Tajikistan for refuelling. Indian government officials are helping in the evacuation of Indian citizens on the ground in Kabul,” sources told ANI.
IAF had already evacuated 180 Indians from Afghanistan. Earlier, India had also rescued consulate members from Kandahar, before the Taliban took control of the city. The Indian officials from the Kandahar consulate had later stationed themselves in the Kabul embassy and were overseeing work from there, ANI reported.
Panic gripped people as the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan on August 15. Soon after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country to ‘avoid bloodshed. People in a desperate attempt to flee the country clung to a US military plane.
Taliban in their first press conference after taking control of the country said that they will not inflict any harm on embassy officials and foreign citizens. They also declared a ‘general amnesty’ for government officials who were urged to return to the offices. They also assured that women’s rights will be protected.
