Afghanistan / Armed Taliban on patrol shut off the airport, stranded Indian’s SOS from Kabul

Zoom News : Aug 17, 2021, 06:28 PM

Nearly 150-2 hundred Indians are stranded in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover, desperately looking ahead to the Government of India to provoke a rescue operation, an Indian countrywide in Kabul advised media.

“I don’t know if the media in India knows this but there are about 150-200 Indians stuck in Afghanistan right now. No information has been given to us yet and we are desperately waiting for the Ministry of External Affairs to give us some response to our calls and emails,” the 32-year-old social development professional said on condition of anonymity.

“I spent hours at the airport yesterday (Monday) and could hear gunshots being fired for over an hour. It was unnerving,” he said, adding that the Indian embassy is sealed. “I, with a few other Indian nationals, then decided to live with local residents here in Kabul till the Indian government initiates something.”

He added: “We may think that we are safe inside these homes right now, but safety at this point is really an illusion. Every day amid this anxiety feels like a year.”

The airport has ceased to function, and all evacuation sports are taking area via the technical area, that's being operated with the aid of using American forces. The Indian embassy in Kabul, it's far learnt, has been sealed following the evacuation of diplomats and personnel in an IAF flight Tuesday.

The social worker said he has been in Afghanistan for over two years, working towards girl child education. He claimed the Indians stranded there are largely social workers or professionals with international agencies.

His family and friends have started a petition asking the government to “Safely Bring Back Indians Stranded In Kabul”, stating that the Taliban were “just a kilometre away” from his location.

“My family is extremely worried about my safety. I just want to go home,” he said.

On Monday, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated the authorities became carefully tracking the situation. “The authorities will take all steps to make sure the protection and safety of Indian nationals and our pastimes in Afghanistan,” he stated.

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