India working closely with US to repatriate citizens from Afghanistan

The Indian government is coordinating closely with the United States, which currently controls the airport in the Afghanistan capital of Kabul and deciding slots for all flights, for repatriating all Indian nationals who are still in the war-torn country.

There was close cooperation between India and the US for the evacuation of some 200 Indian diplomats, officials, security personnel and citizens on two military aircraft on Monday and Tuesday, people familiar with developments said on condition of anonymity on Wednesday.

The evacuation was done in two phases against the backdrop of serious security concerns, including intelligence reports that elements of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Haqqani Network, both Pakistan-based terror groups, had entered Kabul along with the Taliban fighters that took over the capital following the collapse of the Ashraf Ghani government on Sunday.

The evacuation of Indians figured when US secretary of state Antony Blinken spoke to external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday as part of his conversations with several counterparts across the region. At the time of the conversation, the second batch of Indian diplomats and citizens were waiting to be flown out of the Hamid Karzai international airport in Kabul.

“Underlined the urgency of restoring airport operations in Kabul. Deeply appreciate the American efforts underway in this regard,” Jaishankar tweeted after the phone conversation with Blinken.

Besides the contact between the two foreign ministers, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval coordinated with his US counterpart Jake Sullivan while foreign secretary Harsh Shringla spoke with US deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman to ensure that the evacuation of some 150 diplomats, security personnel and citizens could be done smoothly, the people cited above said.

Only military evacuation flights are currently operating from Kabul airport though commercial flights by airlines, including Air India, are expected to resume later this week. The airport was closed after chaotic scenes on Monday when thousands of Afghans marched onto the tarmac as part of desperate efforts to flee the country. Dozens of people clung to the sides of US military aircraft and at least three of them plunged to their death.

The people said the US will play a crucial role when commercial flights resume as it will decide slots airlines.

The people acknowledged that problems had arisen in repatriating Indian citizens as many of them didn’t heed several security advisories issued by the Indian embassy in Kabul asking Indians to register with the mission and to make immediate arrangements to return home while commercial flights were still available.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed officials on Tuesday to ensure that all Indian nationals are safely repatriated from Afghanistan.

“No Indian will be left behind and the repatriation will begin as soon as commercial flights resume. There are also plans for chartered flights. However, the situation is complicated as many of these citizens never registered with the embassy,” one of the people cited above said.

A statement issued by the external affairs ministry on Tuesday asked Indian nationals in Afghanistan to contact the Special Afghanistan Cell at phone numbers +91-11-49016783, +91-11-49016784, +91-11-49016785, WhatsApp number +91 80106 11290 or the email ID SituationRoom@mea.gov.in.

“We have been issuing periodic travel and security advisories for all Indian nationals in Afghanistan, given the deteriorating security situation there. Those already in Afghanistan were urged to return immediately while others were advised not to travel there. Nevertheless, we understand that a number of Indians are stranded in that country, some of whom are employed by third country organizations,” the statement said.

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