India | Afghanistan
India evacuates 50 diplomats, staff members from Kandahar consulate as Taliban advances
New Delhi/IBNS: India has evacuated around 50 diplomats and other staff members from the Kandahar consulate in Afghanistan in view of the Taliban fighters seizing control of a number of key areas in the region, media reports said.
The Kandahar consulate has been closed temporarily.
The personnel were flown out on an Air Force plane, NDTV reported quoting sources.
Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs said India was carefully monitoring the security situation in Afghanistan and its impact on the safety and security of Indian nationals.
"India is closely monitoring the evolving security situation in Afghanistan. The safety and security of our personnel is paramount," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said at a media briefing on Thursday.
"Our response will be calibrated accordingly," he said.
Afghanistan witnessed a series of terror attacks in the last few weeks as the US eyed to complete the withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan by August-end.
The Indian embassy in Kabul said there was no plan to close the embassy.
"Due to the intense fighting near Kandahar city, India based personnel have been brought back for the time being. I want to emphasize that this is a purely temporary measure until the situation stabilizes. The Consulate continues to operate through our local staff members," he had said.
"Arrangements are being made to ensure continued delivery of visa and consular services through our Embassy in Kabul," Bagchi has said.
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