Will rescue all Indians: EAM at all-party meet

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 26

The government on Thursday briefed leaders of 31 political parties on the evolving situation in Afghanistan and said it was committed to full evacuation of Indians from the war-torn country and would wait and watch to formalise its approach on the Taliban, given the current fluid situation.

Reaching out

• MEA says e-visa system started for Afghan nationals
• 24X7 special cell set up, is manned by 20 officials
• Has attended 3,014 calls, responded to 7,826 WhatsApp messages and answered 3,101 emails

565 rescued

175 embassy staff, 263 other Indian nationals, 112 Afghans, 15 third country nationals

After a three-and-a-half-hour meeting with 37 Opposition leaders, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, “The government is committed to full evacuation of Indians from Afghanistan where the situation is critical.”

On the government’s stance on the Taliban, the minister urged patience till the situation settled.

The Ministry of External Affairs gave a detailed presentation on India’s measures, including evacuation of 565 persons. The government is, however, learnt to have told the Opposition that it did not have the exact number of Indians stranded behind.

The Opposition leaders are learnt to have flagged the lack of clarity on the number of nationals to be evacuated and the evacuation strategy beyond August 31 when the United States’ troops pull back fully, said sources. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge later said the Congress raised the issue of deportation of Afghanistan’s MP Rangina Kargar on August 20 and the minister admitted it was a mistake and regretted it.

Congress leaders are learnt to have made pointed queries, including whether India engaged traditional allies Russia and Iran on the issue to ensure peace and stability in the region and whether India was part of the Doha talks.