India Readies Contingency Plans For Evacuation Of Indian Staff & Citizens In Kabul: Report

New Delhi: According to a report, India has devised contingency plans to evacuate hundreds of its officials and citizens from Kabul amid the fear and panic of a possible Taliban takeover of the Afghan capital city.

People privy to the details of the development informed that the Indian government is committed to not put the lives of its staffers at the Indian embassy and other Indian citizens in Kabul at risk, plans have already been finalised if the need for an emergency evacuation arises, news agency PTI reported.

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“The government is closely monitoring the fast-paced developments in Afghanistan. We will not put the lives of our staff at the Indian embassy in Kabul at any risk,” a source cited above said as quoted by PTI.

It was informed that decision regarding the evacuation of Indian staffers and citizens in Kabul will depend on the ground situation.

A fleet of the C-17 Globemaster military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force has been reportedly kept on standby to undertake evacuation missions.

Additionally, news agency ANI reported that security and boarding processes of an Air India flight are underway at Kabul airport in Afghanistan. The flight will return to Delhi tonight with a full load of passengers, the agency quoted sources as saying.

Meanwhile, according to media reports, Taliban insurgents on Sunday entered the outskirts of the capital city causing panic and fear among the residents.

In a matter of days, the Taliban swept through major parts of Afghanistan, seizing control of around 25 of the 34 provincial capitals, including key cities such as Kandahar, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif and Jalalabad.

The Afghan Presidential Palace went on Twitter to assure that the situation is under control in Kabul and it has not been attacked, albeit instances of sporadic gunshots have been reported.

It stated the Afghan security forces are working with their international partners to ensure the security of Kabul.

“Kabul has not been attacked. The country’s security and defence forces are working together with international partners to ensure the security of the city and the situation is under control,” the statement in Pashto informed.

Earlier today, Associated Press quoted an Afghan official as saying that the Taliban negotiators are heading to the presidential palace to prepare for a “transfer” of power.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani urged government forces to maintain law and order in Kabul, AFP reported.

Taliban spokesperson has told the agency that they want a peaceful transfer of power in Afghanistan in the “next few days”.