Kyiv [Ukraine]: Amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, a Pakistani student stranded in the war-hit country was rescued by the Indian authorities.
According to sources, Pakistan's Asma Shafique, who was rescued by the Indian authorities, is now en route to Western Ukraine for further evacuation out of the country. She will be reunited with her family soon, said the sources.
After the Indian authorities rescued her, Shafique expressed her gratitude towards the Indian embassy in Kyiv and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their support.
"I want to thank the Indian embassy of Kyiv for supporting us all the way here as we were stuck in a very difficult situation and I also want to thank the Prime Minister of India for supporting us. Hope we get home safely because of the Indian embassy," she said.
This is not the first time India rescued a foreign national. Earlier, India had evacuated one Bangladeshi national, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), that had later also informed that one Nepali citizen would be coming on board an Indian flight under Operation Ganga.
Roshan Jha, the first Nepali national to have been evacuated from Ukraine by the Indian authorities, had also expressed his gratitude towards the Indian government for their support, reported The Kathmandu Post.
Later, the Indian embassy in Kathmandu had informed that the Indian government was evacuating seven more Nepalis from Poland.
Meanwhile, the MEA on Tuesday informed that it had evacuated all Indian students from Ukraine's Sumy.
Under 'Operation Ganga' to rescue Indian citizens from Ukraine's neighbouring countries, about 18 thousand Indians have been brought back by special flights so far.
410 Indians were brought back on Tuesday by special Civilian flights from Ukraine's neighbouring countries by 2 special civilian flights from Suceava, said the Ministery of Civil Aviation press release.
With this, about 18,000 Indians have been brought back through the special flights, which began on February 22, 2022. (ANI)
