With the security situation worsening in Afghanistan due to the expansion of Taliban territories, New Delhi has decided to evacuate its nationals and officials from Kabul and other cities, reports Indian media.
“Plans have been worked out for the evacuation of our staff and other personnel present in Afghanistan in the cities of Kabul, Kandahar and Mazar-i-Sharif,” top government sources told India Today.
Due to the ongoing security situation in the Afghan cities and hinterland, it is becoming untenable for embassies and consulates to operate. Afghan officials themselves have started fleeing the areas under their government control fearing Taliban attack, the sources said.
After US President Joe Biden announced in April withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and global forces started interacting with the Taliban, the areas under control of the outfit have expanded significantly. There have also been instances where Afghan security personnel have joined ranks with the Taliban.
India had four consulates in Afghanistan along with the embassy in Kabul, which has military officials working as defence attachés and helping in the training of Afghanistan’s army and police forces.
The Indian consulates in Jalalabad and Hairat city stopped operations some time ago while the operations in Kandahar and Mazar-i-Sharif are still on.
