MEA reviews situation, to airlift citizens

New Delhi

“The situation in Afghanistan is being monitored on a constant basis at high levels. The government will take all steps to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals and our interests in Afghanistan,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

India’s defence top brass, the foreign policy establishment and senior intelligence officials are understood to have reviewed the fast-paced developments. People familiar with the meetings said the immediate priority of the government is to evacuate nearly 200 Indians, including Indian embassy staffers and security personnel from Kabul. “The government is also looking at bringing back hundreds of Indian citizens and facilitate the evacuation of the members of the Hindu and Sikh minorities as well as Afghan nationals who have applied for visas from the Indian embassy,” officials said.

Meanwhile, Air India cancelled its Delhi-Kabul-Delhi flight that was scheduled to operate on Monday to avoid Afghanistan airspace after it was declared “uncontrolled” by authorities.