On May 19, 2023, the Indian Air Force sent 24,000 kilograms of relief material to the war-torn nation of Sudan through a C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft.
The IAF will also bring back 150 Indian people stranded in Sudan.
To help the people in Sudan, the Indian leadership has beyond and above the call of duty to protect its citizens in dire need.
On the dark nights of April 27, 2023, and April 28, 2023, the brave IAF pilots flew blind, facing the overwhelming odds of rescuing 121 stranded Indians in Sudan.
The Indian Air Force displayed exemplary courage and valour, and operational astuteness during the entire operation. With no navigational approach and without fuel aids, the brave pilots landed down on an airstrip in Wadi Sayyidna with the help of infrared sensors and night vision goggles.
In a narrow time frame, with the jet engine still running, the commandos on board secured passengers and their luggage. This feat was achieved and accomplished by the IAF and it seemed like an unattainable task to everyone else.
This efficient and swift operation was a part of the larger Mission Kaveri to safely evacuates 3000 Indians trapped in Sudan. It is just one example to show the world how India is committed to saving its citizens even in drastic situations.
In 2017, the late Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, tweeted, “Even if you are stuck on Mars, the Indian Embassy there will help you.” This tweet was not merely a statement, but a reassuring promise to the citizens in the purported call of distress and a display of India’s resolve to protect her citizens, no matter which corner of the world they are in.
India’s actions are consistent with her statement. India organised a massive and daring mission called Operation Kaveri to safely bring back home 3000 Indians from the conflict-ridden, northeastern African nation of Sudan.
An Indian diplomat Suresh Devare appreciated India’s rescue operation in Sudan and said it was not an easy task because the Sudanese capital Khartoum is located much inside and where violence was at its peak. So, the rescue of the Indian community from Sudan was a tough task to perform.
The Indian community was spread in and around Sudan. So, to bring them from Port Sudan to Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) for the eventual evacuation to India, all was very tough.
This mission was full of logistical challenges, potential aggressive acts, and political and communicational barriers. But the response team under committed leadership in New Delhi navigated through numerous hurdles and successfully brought their brethren back home.
As per an account of a rescued Indian from Sudan, he cannot thank the Indian government enough. The Indian Navy also supported them and got a clear response from all sides.
Another rescued Indian said that the government had helped them a lot. The situation in Sudan was very bad and complicated. A third Indian rescued from Sudan expressed that they had lost all hope of returning alive from Sudan. The rescued Indian was very thankful to the authorities who made them sure to reach home safely.
India has proved and demonstrated several times regarding her commitment to her citizens and its capacity to confront a crisis and emerge successful, be it Russia-Ukraine War (2022) or Yemen, terrorist-held territories in Iraq and even rescuing Indians from China during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
In 2015, India launched Operation Rahat, a massive operation to rescue Indians from Yemen. The Indian authorities saved a total of 6,710 citizens and including 1,962 foreign nationals, from war-torn Yemen.
In the European theatre, India launched Operation Ganga, which aimed to rescue hundreds of Indians in Ukraine by the Russian offensive. It also organised Operation Vande Bharat to rescue Indians stranded in China due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Other operations include Operation Sukoon, Operation Maitri, Operation Safe Homecoming and many more. India has become even more proactive in the last few years and has been the first one to reach out to its citizens during calamities or warlike conflict situations.
India never spared any effort to shield her people from harm’s way. From military aircraft to ships and road transportation, India mobilises its sources at its disposal to protect its citizens.
Due to India’s efforts, Hamid Ansari, who was falsely accused and sentenced to prison by the Pakistan Court, was recovered. India fought against all the diplomatic challenges and brought Ansari back to India. India has reached out to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to secure the release of Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was accused on the grounds of espionage and sentenced to death by a Pakistani Court.
Besides dialogue and diplomacy, India has also resorted to forceful and assertive measures when the usual tactics fail. The classic example is that of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, whom Pakistanis captured.
Although the details of the diplomatic communication are not available in the public domain, the Pak leadership initially misled Indians about the location and whereabouts acknowledged his presence on Pakistani soil, and released him as a Prisoner of War (POW).
According to Ambassador Anil Trigunayat, The Pakistani government realised that India was serious and would escalate further if he were to be harmed in any way. They would have lost much more in the bargain and therefore returned Abhinandan in the shortest possible time.
Such incidents show the unwavering commitment of India to the safety and well-being of its citizens, even in the most challenging circumstances.
The Indian government says it is committed to assisting every Indian, whether he is one of the 1.4 billion people residing within or outside the country as a part of the 32 million diasporas in different parts of the globe.
Besides emergency assistance, India also provides her overseas citizens with legal assistance, consular service and financial assistance.
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