India evacuates staff from Afghanistan’s Kandahar consulate due to deteriorating security situation

New Delhi: According to diplomatic sources on Sunday, some Indian embassy workers have been evacuated because of the deteriorating security situation in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

India had earlier hinted that it would bring back its nationals and officials from Afghanistan if the security situation worsens as the Taliban is making advances and capturing more provinces.

Meanwhile, the emergency services of the consulate remain operational.

However, diplomatic sources stated that reports of shutting of Indian Consulate in Kandahar, Afghanistan, are incorrect. And the mission remains functional, they added.

"With the Afghan security situation deteriorating, plans have been discussed for bringing back our citizens and, officials present in different parts of that country and, multiple agencies are in discussion for this purpose," sources had earlier told ANI.

India has an embassy in Kabul, consulates in Kandahar and Mazar, where over 500 people are employed.

Two consulates in Herat and Jalalabad had ceased operations earlier there.

The country has had a significant presence in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 following the US invasion and aided various governments in the country, including members of the Northern Alliance, who have long been allies with India.

Describing the security situation in Afghanistan as fluid and deteriorating, the Afghan envoy to India Farid Mamundzay has said the Taliban need to cease violence and there should be an end to the bloodshed.

"More than 200,000 Afghan civilians are displaced already. There is an active fight going on between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters in 200 districts out of a total of 375. There is also trouble in 18 border districts that share a border with several countries Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran," the envoy said.

Considering that the complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan will end in August, the Taliban have been capturing newer districts and areas at a rapid speed and, the Afghan government forces are also fleeing from several places there.

India has contributed significantly to Afghanistan's rehabilitation, including a parliament building and multiple roads connecting the country's major cities.

Courtesy: ANI