Afghanistan crisis IAF flight with evacuated Indians from Kabul land in Delhi
New Delhi/IBNS: A special repatriation flight by the Indian Air Force, carrying 168 passengers, including 107 Indians, from Kabul in the war-torn Afghanistan landed at the Hindon air base near Delhi.
Three other flights - Air India, IndiGo and Vistara - carrying Indians evacuated from Kabul also landed in Delhi from Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe and Qatar's Doha this morning.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi posted pictures of the evacuation efforts on Twitter.
Evacuation continues!
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) August 22, 2021
IAF special repatriation flight with 168 passengers onboard, including 107 Indian nationals, is on its way to Delhi from Kabul. pic.twitter.com/ysACxClVdX
India also evacuated two Nepalese nationals, who were stranded in Afghanistan.
The permission was granted by American and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces which have been controlling operations of the Hamid Karzai International Airport after the Taliban took control of Kabul on Aug 15.
In a string of tweets earlier, Bagchi posted details of the evacuation efforts by Air India and IndiGo flights.
Bringing Indians home from Afghanistan!
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) August 21, 2021
AI 1956 carrying 87 Indians departs from Tajikistan for New Delhi. Two Nepalese nationals also evacuated.
Assisted and supported by our Embassy @IndEmbDushanbe.
More evacuation flights to follow. pic.twitter.com/YMCuJQ7595
The passengers were earlier evacuated from Kabul by an IAF aircraft. pic.twitter.com/03ZBOZEpvQ
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) August 21, 2021
He also posted a short video clip where the evacuees can be seen chanting "Bharat Mata Ki Jai", adding more evacuation flights will follow.
Jubilant evacuees on their journey home ! pic.twitter.com/3sfvSaEVK7
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) August 21, 2021
Earlier, the government on Tuesday said it is committed to the safe return of all Indians in Afghanistan and is also extending visa services to Afghan nationals.
India has evacuated all embassy staff but an estimated 1,000 citizens remain in several Afghan cities.
