Nirendra Dev
The government and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar swung into action on Monday (August 16), monitoring the Afghanistan situation and ensuring the safety and security of Indians.
New Delhi: Sources said that about 120 Indian Embassy staffers and diplomats arrived at Jamnagar in Gujarat in a special aircraft C 17 of the Indian Air Force on Tuesday (August 17).
Most of them are expected to arrive in Delhi/Ghaziabad region. The aircraft touched ground at Jamnagar reportedly for refuelling, a source said. Earlier in the day, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had announced that "In view of the prevailing circumstances, it has been decided that our Ambassador in Kabul (Rudrendra Tandon) and his Indian staff will move to India immediately."
The government and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar swung into action on Monday (August 16), monitoring the Afghanistan situation and ensuring the safety and security of Indians, especially people belonging to Hindu and Sikh communities.
In a series of tweets, Dr Jaishankar informed that he has held tele talks with US counterpart Antony Blinken and discussed "the latest developments in Afghanistan".
He had underlined the urgency of restoring airport operations in Kabul and also tweeted to say that India "deeply appreciated" the American efforts underway in this regard.
The US officials in Kabul airport helped in the smooth travel of 120 Indians to Jamnagar on Tuesday (August 17) afternoon.
In a tweet marking it to Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Dr Jaishankar wrote: "We are in constant touch with the Sikh and Hindu community leaders in Kabul. Their welfare will get our priority attention".
The Minister also wrote – "Given the Kabul situation, important we have accurate information about Indians there. Urge that this be provided by all concerned to the MEA Special Afghanistan Cell at: Phone number: +919717785379 and Email: MEAHelpdeskIndia@gmail.com".
Dr Jaishankar landed in New York on Tuesday morning
He will chair two high-level meetings of the UN Security Council – on UN peacekeeping and terrorism.
He will also participate in a ceremony at the UN Peacekeeping memorial along with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
