India evacuates 170 from Afghanistan

An Indian air force plane evacuated over 170 people from Kabul yesterday, including India’s ambassador to Afghanistan, a government official said, as diplomats and civilians scrambled to get out of the country.
The flight landed in the western Indian city of Jamnagar for refuelling on the way to Delhi, Jamnagar collector Sourabh Pardhi said.
Speaking to reporters, ambassador Rudrendra Tandon said that nearly 200 personnel of the Indian mission in Afghanistan had been evacuated within three days, alongside Indian civilians working in the country.
“You cannot imagine how great it is to be back home,” Tandon said. “We are back home safely, securely, without any accidents or harm to any of our people.”
Tandon described the situation in Afghanistan as “fluid”, adding that a small number of Indian nationals remained in the country who authorities were attempting to bring back.
India, which has invested millions of dollars in development projects across Afghanistan, once operated four consulates in the country, besides the embassy in Kabul.
The last operating consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif was shut down a week ago, days before Taliban took control of the northern city
Meanwhile, the Indian government has announced a new category of electronic visas to fast-track applications of Afghans who want to come to India in view of the prevailing situation in Afghanistan.
“MHA reviews visa provisions in view of the current situation in Afghanistan. A new category of electronic visa called “e-Emergency X-Misc Visa” was introduced to fast-track visa applications for entry into India,” the home ministry said in a statement.
All Afghans, irrespective of their religion, can apply for the ‘e-Emergency X-Misc Visa’ online and the applications will be processed in New Delhi.
Officials said since Indian missions in Afghanistan are shut, the visa can be applied online and applications will be examined and processed in New Delhi.
The visa will initially be valid for six months, they said.
Security issues will be looked into while processing the applications and granting the visa to Afghan nationals, the officials added.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India is closely monitoring the situation in Afghanistan .
In a series of tweets, Jaishankar said: “Understand the anxiety of those seeking to return to India. Airport operations are the main challenge. Discussions on with partners in that regard.”
The ministry of external affairs has also set up a special Afghanistan cell to co-ordinate repatriation and other requests from the country.