New Delhi: The government of India evacuated around 50 Diplomats and security staff from its consulate in Kandahar, Afghanistan after the Taliban gained more lands in the second biggest province of Afghanistan.
According to the sources “A special Indian Air Force aircraft brought back the diplomats, officials and other staff members, including a group of ITBP personnel, on Saturday and avoided the Pakistani air space while bringing back the personal.”
On the evacuation of the Indian Diplomats and Security staff in Afghanistan – Spokesperson of External Affairs Ministry Arindam Bagchi said, “The safety and security of our personnel are paramount. They have been brought back for the time being due to intense fighting near Kandahar. This is a temporary measure. The consulate continues to operate through our local staff members.”
The only consulate left functional is in Mazar-e-Sharif in northern Afghanistan. There too the security situation is deteriorating and reports state that some countries have already shut their consulates in Mazar.
According to the media reports, India had four fully functional consulates in Afghanistan. The numbers and their location had become a bone of contention with Pakistan. With the temporary closure of the Kandahar consulate and the earlier shuttering of the Jalalabad consulate, India has shut both consulates near the Pakistan border. Herat consulate, near the Iranian border, was shut along with the Jalalabad consulate.
Some Afghanistan-based political experts have believed that the situation in Afghanistan may disturb more than ever. The Agenda and intentions of the Taliban look clear in Afghanistan and the withdrawal of the American troops from Afghanistan could create trouble for Kabul Government.