India evacuates diplomats, security staff from Kandahar as Taliban gain ground

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 11

India has temporarily evacuated about 50 diplomats and security personnel from its consulate in Kandahar, Afghanistan, as the Taliban gained more ground in areas in and around the city.

Edit: Mayhem by the Taliban

A special Indian Air Force aircraft brought back the diplomats, officials and other staff members, including a group of ITBP personnel, on Saturday, said sources. The plane avoided Pakistani air space while bringing back the personnel.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “The safety and security of our personnel is 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.” Arrangements are being made to ensure continued delivery of visa and consular services through the Embassy in Kabul.

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.

India once 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 Kandahar consulate and the earlier shuttering of Jalalabad consulate, India has shut both consulates near the Pakistan border. Herat consulate, near the Iranian border, was shut along with Jalalabad consulate.