Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, today urged the Government of India and Ministry of External Affairs to evacuate all Indians stranded in the Taliban controlled Afghanistan. Reportedly, over 200 Sikhs are stuck in a Gurudwara in war-torn Afghanistan
He further added that Punjab Government is ready to provide any assistant needed for the cause.
In his tweet to External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, CM Amarinder Singh wrote, “Urge @DrSJaishankar, MEA, GoI, to arrange for the immediate evacuation of all Indians, including around 200 Sikhs, stuck in a Gurudwara in Afghanistan after the #Taliban takeover. My govt is willing to extend any help needed to ensure their safe evacuation.”
Earlier, CM has also expressed his concerns regarding the Taliban’s capture over Afghanistan saying, “Afghanistan’s fall to #Taliban doesn’t augur well for our country. It’ll strengthen the Sino-Pak nexus against India (China has already sought militia’s help on Uyghur).”
He further said that India now needs to be extra alert at borders. “The signs are not at all good, we need to be extra vigilant now at all our borders.”
The Taliban on August 15, managed to enter Kabul, meanwhile, President Ghani and his diplomats fled from Afghanistan to an unknown location. Now, the Taliban has seized entire Afghanistan and other countries are trying their heads-off to evacuate their citizens and Indian is one of them.
According to sources, India has prepared for all contingencies and eventualities, including removing its embassy staff in Kabul as well as Indian citizens stranded in the country.
Also Read: AirSpace closed at Kabul, Air India flight to Afghan capital can’t operate
On Sunday, an Air India plane, Flight AI244 evacuated 129 stranded Indians in Kabul. However, as per the latest development in the Afghanistan crisis, the scheduled Air India flight to Kabul would not be able to fly because the airspace over Afghanistan has been declared closed.
“Afghanistan's airspace has been declared closed, and no aircraft can operate there. Our scheduled flight to Kabul will also be cancelled," said an Air India representative.
The airline had a scheduled flight from Delhi to Kabul at 8.50 a.m. on Monday, but it was rescheduled to 12.50 p.m. and then suspended after Kabul's airspace was closed due to the release of a NOTAM, or notice to airmen, which is an official notice carrying information on aircraft operations.