This Article is From Aug 17, 2021

Indian Embassy In Kabul Not Closed, Over 1,500 Applied To Return: Report

More than 1,650 people have applied for their return to India, ANI has reported.

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India News Edited by

Fear has been looming in Afghanistan as the US forces started leaving after 20 years of occupation.

New Delhi:

The Indian Embassy in Kabul is not closed and the local staff is providing consular services, reported news agency ANI quoting sources. More than 1,650 people have applied for their return to India, ANI reported.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting of the Cabinet Committee of Security to assess the situation in Afghanistan today, which was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

Fear has been looming large in the war-torn nation, which fell to Taliban as the US forces started leaving the country after 20 years of occupation. Taliban took over Kabul on Sunday.

Thousands have since been swarming at the airport in Kabul, desperate for a chance to leave the country. Yesterday more than two people fell to their deaths as they tried to fly out, crouching on the wings of planes.

A photo of more than 600 people flying out in a US Air Force transport plane, sitting on the floor packed like sardines is being widely shared and is seen as a defining picture of the day.

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On Monday, India Said Hindus And Sikhs From Afghanistan will be given priority for repatriation once commercial flight service begins from Kabul. India also said it would stand by Afghans "who have been our partners in the promotion of our mutual developmental, educational and people to people endeavours".

"The government will take all steps to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals and our interests in Afghanistan," the foreign ministry had said

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India has evacuated its staffers from the embassy in Kabul, which fell to Taliban on Sunday. The embassy personnel, including the Indo-Tibetan Border Police on security duty, have been flown back on two Air Force planes. The second one took off this morning, sources have said, after suspected US intervention.

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