Zoom News : Aug 21, 2021, 01:18 PM
New Delhi: Nearly 150 people, mostly Indian nationals, have allegedly been kidnapped by Taliban fighters when they were heading to Kabul airport to leave Afghanistan amid humanitarian crisis after the Taliban takeover, as per reports by local media.The External Affairs Ministry has not made any official statement over the matter yet and is trying to confirm the development.As per reports, the abduction took place when over 100 Indians and some Afghan nationals were on their way to Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport to fly out of the war-torn country.The abducted people have been taken to an unknown place and their phones have also been confiscated, reports claimed.However, Ahmadullah Waseq, a Taliban spokesman, has denied the report of the alleged kidnapping to a member of the Afghan media.Earlier today, a C-130J transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force evacuated more than 85 Indian nationals from Kabul. The plane took off from Kabul this morning and landed in Tajikistan for refuelling, sources said on Saturday.Last week, IAF C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft brought back from Kabul around 150 people, including Indian ambassador Tandon, Indian diplomats, officials, security personnel and some stranded Indians.Nearly 40 staffers from Kabul were also evacuated from the war-torn country in another flight.The evacuation process was done under challenging circumstances as thousands of Afghans had arrived at Kabul airport in a desperate attempt to fly out of the country.Earlier this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a crucial high-level meeting to discuss prevailing situation in Afghanistan and directed officials to ensure safe evacuation of all Indian citizens from the war-ravaged country.He also asked officials concerned to provide refuge to Sikhs and Hindus wanting to come to India from there and undertake all necessary measures to ensure safe evacuation of Indian nationals from Afghanistan in the coming days.