17 August 2021, 14:52 PM
India's ministry of external affairs planned this evacuation mission and carried it out in three days. "We had a very large mission. We had a mission of 192 persons that were evacuated from Afghanistan, in literally a period of just three days, in a very orderly fashion in two phases. Apart from the personnel of the embassy, there were also people from the public sector companies in Afghanistan and there were people from Air India, who also needed to be evacuated as the situation in Kabul city was rapidly changing. Then there were also Indian citizens who found themselves in distress due to the fast changing situation. But our policy was that anyone who reaches the embassy, would be taken into the evacuation mission and will have a safe and secure exit from the country," Rudrendra Tandon, Minister of of External Affairs said. (IANS)
17 August 2021, 14:51 PM
More than 40,000 people wounded during fighting in Afghanistan have been treated since June at health facilities supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), including 7,600 so far this month, the aid agency said on Tuesday (August 17).
Reuters
17 August 2021, 14:51 PM
Prime Minister Boris Johnson intends to hold a virtual meeting of Group of Seven leaders at the earliest opportunity to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, his office said after the British leader spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday (August 17). "Both leaders resolved to use their bilateral and multilateral influence to encourage international partners to adopt a joined-up approach to the challenges ahead," Downing Street said in a statement after the two leaders spoke by phone.
Reuters
17 August 2021, 13:58 PM
Reaching out to those in need in Afghanistan, the Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar had tweeted on August 16:
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
Email: MEAHelpdeskIndia@gmail.com— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 16, 2021
17 August 2021, 13:51 PM
Facebook announced that it has banned the Taliban and all content supporting the insurgents from its platforms as it considers the group to be a terrorist organisation. The company says it has a dedicated team of Afghan experts to monitor and remove content linked to the group, the BBC reported. For years, the Taliban has used social media to spread its messages. Its rapid takeover of Afghanistan raises fresh challenges for technology firms on how to deal with content related to the group. (IANS)
17 August 2021, 13:39 PM
"Temporarily Air India had to suspend its commercial services because of the conditions in the airport. However, we continue to ensure that anyone who is stuck there is somehow brought here for which the MEA has opened a help desk that is operating already," Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan, Rudrendra Tandon said after landing at Jamnagar, Gujarat. He added that India has not forgotten about the people of Afghanistan and their welfare. (ANI)
It's not that we've abandoned people of Afghanistan, their welfare&our relationship with them is very much in our mind. We'll try & continue our interaction with them, I can't exactly say in what form as situation is changing: Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan in Jamnagar, Gujarat pic.twitter.com/WYtGnSfecR
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2021
17 August 2021, 12:52 PM
Evacuated Indians from Kabul, Afghanistan chant 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Vande Mataram' after landing in Jamnagar, Gujarat. Watch here:
#WATCH | Evacuated Indians from Kabul, Afghanistan chant 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' after landing in Jamnagar, Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/IqvESz79IO
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2021
17 August 2021, 12:48 PM
Japan has closed its embassy in Kabul due to the worsening security situation in Afghanistan and the last remaining twelve embassy personnel had left the country, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. "Due to the rapid worsening of the security situation in Afghanistan, we are temporarily closing our embassy there," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that it was relocating the embassy's duties to an office in Istanbul. "Twelve remaining embassy personnel have been flown out of Kabul airport on a military flight provided by a friendly nation and been evacuated to Dubai."
17 August 2021, 12:46 PM
Britain cautioned the Taliban on Tuesday that Afghanistan must never be used to launch terror attacks but added that the West must try to positively influence the insurgents who have grabbed power after the United States withdrew its forces. "Our message is going to be this: Afghanistan must never be used to launch terrorist attacks against the West, we`ve had 20 years of success in that regard," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told Sky. He added that the West would have to be pragmatic in its relations with the Taliban, try to see if it could moderate the new rulers of Afghanistan and even try to convince them to be "inclusive". (Reuters)
17 August 2021, 12:40 PM
The Government of India (GoI) has introduced a new category of electronic visa called “e-Emergency X-Misc Visa” to fast-track visa applications for entry into India amid the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan. “MHA reviews visa provisions in view of the current situation in Afghanistan. A new category of electronic visa called “e-Emergency X-Misc Visa” introduced to fast-track visa applications for entry into India,” Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI on Tuesday.
17 August 2021, 12:31 PM
A Taliban official has announced a general amnesty for all in Afghanistan and urged women to join its government. Enamullah Samangani, member of Islamic Emirate's cultural commission, made the comments Tuesday (August 17) on Afghan state television, which the militants now control. "The Islamic Emirate don't want women to be victims," he said, using the militants' term for Afghanistan. He added, "The structure of government is not fully clear, but based on experience, there should be a fully Islamic leadership and all sides should join."
17 August 2021, 11:48 AM
IAF aircraft carrying Indian officials has landed in Gujarat's Jamnagar.
#WATCH | Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft that took off from Kabul, Afghanistan with Indian officials, lands in Jamnagar, Gujarat. pic.twitter.com/1w3HFYef6b
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2021
17 August 2021, 11:16 AM
Pakistan's ambassador at the United Nations says US President Joe Biden's endorsement of the previous American administrations' decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan was "a logical conclusion to this conflict." Akram told reporters at UN headquarters in New York on Monday (August 16) that the international community must now work together "to ensure an inclusive political settlement for a long-term peace, security and development of Afghanistan."
17 August 2021, 11:16 AM
Europe has to create humanitarian corridors to receive refugees fleeing from Afghanistan, and also to avoid uncontrolled flows of illegal immigrants, the European Union's Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said on Tuesday (August 17) in an interview.
17 August 2021, 11:15 AM
US President Joe Biden has decided to allocate up to 500 million dollars to help refugees from Afghanistan, the White House has said in a statement.
17 August 2021, 11:01 AM
Amid the efforts to coordinate the evacuation of Indian citizens from Afghanistan, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval spoke to his US counterpart Jake Sullivan in detail last evening (August 16).The US security forces are controlling the Kabul airport and after the conversation between the two NSAs, the Indian contingent was taken inside the American security zone at the airport from where they took off this morning, top sources told ANI.The Indian C-17 aircraft was also given clearance to land at the Kabul airstrip after coordinating the evacuation efforts with the American officials on ground.Sources said that due to the situation on ground in Kabul, the Indian officials' exit had become a bit difficult but was arranged for ultimately.
17 August 2021, 10:38 AM
Pakistan has emphasised the importance of an "inclusive" political settlement in Afghanistan as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and discussed the chaotic and rapidly changing situation in the war-ravaged country after the Taliban recaptured the Afghan capital of Kabul. (PTI)
17 August 2021, 10:04 AM
Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said his country will accept the government in Afghanistan formed by Taliban if "it's a government of the people". "No matter which new government is formed, if a Taliban government is formed, which has been done, our door will be open to them if it is a government of the people," Momen said on Monday.
17 August 2021, 08:53 AM
In view of the prevailing circumstances, it has been decided that our Ambassador in Kabul and his Indian staff will move to India immediately: MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi
(ANI)
17 August 2021, 08:52 AM
MHA announces new category of visa called ;e-Emergency X-Misc Visa' for Afghans: Officials.
PTI
17 August 2021, 08:52 AM
Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft has taken off from Kabul with more than 120 Indian officials in it. The staff was brought inside the secure areas of the airport safely, late last evening: Sources
(ANI)
17 August 2021, 08:26 AM
Afghanistan citizens are blaming Pakistan for the country's current situation as it gave shelter to the Taliban when its citizens were fighting the terrorist group, said Fabien Baussart, the President of Center of Political and Foreign Affairs. Baussart in Times of Israel wrote that the areas in northwestern Pakistan were used by the Taliban to rearrange and resurrect following the assault by the United States and allied forces in 2001.However, there have been angry reactions on social media blaming Pakistan and its spy agency Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) for the ongoing mess in Afghanistan.
17 August 2021, 08:03 AM
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has discussed the Afghanistan situation with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar as he made a round of calls to foreign ministers with direct interests in the country overrun by the Taliban. Jaishankar tweeted after the call on Monday (August 16) that while discussing the latest developments in Afghanistan he "underlined the urgency of restoring airport operations in Kabul. Deeply appreciate the American efforts underway in this regard".
17 August 2021, 07:38 AM
"I stand squarely behind my decision," US President Joe Biden said. "After 20 years I`ve learned the hard way that there was never a good time to withdraw U.S. forces. That`s why we're still there." Breaking his silence on the US pullout after scenes of bedlam dominated television news channels for days, Biden blamed the Taliban`s takeover in Afghanistan on Afghan political leaders who fled the country and the unwillingness of the US-trained Afghan army to fight the militant group. He warned Taliban leaders they would face "devastating force" should they interfere with the US pullout.
(With Reuters input)
16 August 2021, 23:37 PM
Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, has set up a special Afghanistan cell.
#MEA has set up a Special Afghanistan Cell to coordinate repatriation and other requests from Afghanistan.
Pls contact :
Phone number: +919717785379
Email: MEAHelpdeskIndia@gmail.com@IndianEmbKabul— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) August 16, 2021
16 August 2021, 21:45 PM
Ashraf Ghani, who has been Afghanistan's president since 2014, has fled the country.
Ashraf Ghani should face trial for fleeing in most disgraceful manner: Russian envoy
16 August 2021, 21:15 PM
As violence intensifies in Afghanistan, United Nations leaders are warning of a massive humanitarian crisis in the country that is having a devastating impact on civilians, particularly women and children.
Afghanistan crisis in pics: Future uncertain for women, kids as Taliban takes over
16 August 2021, 20:53 PM
The Border Security Force of India is keeping a close eye on what's happening in Afghanistan. BSF Director General (DG) SS Deswal said, "What is happening in the neighbouring country is its internal matter, but we are keeping a close watch on the situation."
16 August 2021, 20:30 PM
Islamic militant group Hamas has congratulated Taliban for taking control over Afghanistan. The group said in a statement, "We congratulate the Muslim Afghan people for the defeat of the American occupation on all Afghan lands, and we congratulate the Taliban movement and its brave leadership on this victory, which came as the culmination of its long struggle over the past 20 years."
16 August 2021, 19:33 PM
Afghan filmmaker Sahraa Karimi's video of running to the bank has gone viral.
“Taliban have entered the city and we are running away. Everyone is afraid.”
This is not a clip from a scary movie, This is the reality in Kabul. Last week the city hosted a film festival & now they running away for their lives. Heartbreaking to watch but the world is do nothing pic.twitter.com/90PzxqLPYE— Masih Alinejad (@AlinejadMasih) August 15, 2021
16 August 2021, 19:32 PM
India will help the Sikh and Hindu minorities of Afghanistan. "We are in constant touch with the representatives of Afghan Sikh and Hindu communities. We will facilitate repatriation to India of those who wish to leave Afghanistan," foreign ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said in a statement.
16 August 2021, 18:41 PM
A scary video has surfaced from Kabul, Afghanistan, in which two people can be seen falling from an aircraft. They held on to it from outside when it was taking off.
Shocking Visuals: 2 people seen falling from mid-air plane in Kabul, were hanging on tires
16 August 2021, 18:11 PM
All commercial flights have been suspended at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, a statement by the airport authority said on Monday, reports IANS. Kabul airport was crowded on Sunday night with over 2,000 people hoping to board commercial flights leaving the country.
16 August 2021, 17:21 PM
The Russian embassy in Kabul has said that the Ashraf Ghani, the current Afghan president, left the country with many bags full of cash. It was so much that it couldn't even fit in the plane he was flying in.
16 August 2021, 17:17 PM
Fearing for their lives, many Afghanistan residents were seen trying to get hold of an aeroplane at the international airport. Some even tried to catch hold of the window of a moving plane.
Can’t believe my eyes. Men holding lower part of the US aircraft moments before it took off from #Kabul airport. pic.twitter.com/bT97WrNa12
— Sudhir Chaudhary (@sudhirchaudhary) August 16, 2021
16 August 2021, 16:48 PM
Many local residents have started fleeing Afghanistan in order to safeguard themselves from advancing Taliban.
People in massive numbers evacuate Afghanistan after Taliban's siege of Kabul
16 August 2021, 16:46 PM
The world is watching Afghanistan, in particular Kabul, with bated breath. Nobody is sure how the crisis is going to unfold with Taliban taking full control. Here are some pics that will tell you about the current situation in Afghanistan.
9 pics that tell the story of Kabul's change of fate under Taliban
16 August 2021, 16:35 PM
Taliban has captured a majority of the provinces in Afghanistan. They have control over most of the big cities in the country. This has made the citizens angry with the Afghan army.
16 August 2021, 16:26 PM
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the international community should come together for the settlement of peace in Afghanistan, and Pakistan can play a major role in it. "Pakistan is very clear on our position: we believe that a negotiated political settlement is the only way forward. We do not wish to see continued cycle of civil war & want the people of Afghanistan to thrive, not simply survive," Qureshi tweeted on Monday.
16 August 2021, 15:57 PM
China on Monday expressed hope that the Taliban will stand by its commitment of establishing an open and inclusive Islamic government in Afghanistan and will ensure a peaceful transition of power without violence and terrorism.
16 August 2021, 15:57 PM
Taliban fighters in the Afghan capital, Kabul, started collecting weapons from civilians on Monday because people no longer need them for personal protection, a Taliban official said. "We understand people kept weapons for personal safety. They can now feel safe. We are not here to harm innocent civilians," the official told Reuters.
16 August 2021, 15:55 PM
British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace says the government is planning to fly out 1,500 more people from Afghanistan over the next two days. The first flight carrying British nationals has landed in the UK, he said Monday, as countries scrambled to evacuate their diplomats, Afghan employees and their families from the chaotic airport in Kabul.
16 August 2021, 15:55 PM
Taliban entered the TOLOnews compound in Kabul, checked the weapons of the security staff, collected govt-issued weapons, agreed to keep the compound safe: Afghanistan's TOLOnews.
16 August 2021, 15:39 PM
Chaos as thousands flee Afghanistan after Taliban takeover
Thousands packed into the Afghan capital's airport on Monday, rushing the tarmac and pushing onto planes in desperate attempts to flee the country after the Taliban overthrew the Western-backed government. US soldiers fired warning shots as they struggled to manage the chaotic evacuation.
16 August 2021, 15:38 PM
Taliban fighters in the Afghan capital, Kabul, started collecting weapons from civilians on Monday because people no longer need them for personal protection, a Taliban official said. "We understand people kept weapons for personal safety. They can now feel safe. We are not here to harm innocent civilians," the official told Reuters.
16 August 2021, 15:37 PM
Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban leader freed from a Pakistani jail on the request of the US less than three years ago, has emerged as an undisputed victor of the 20-year war in Afghanistan, the Guardian reported. While Haibatullah Akhundzada is the Taliban`s overall leader, Baradar is its political chief and its most public face.
16 August 2021, 15:36 PM
Uzbekistan studies reports of Afghan plane crash
Uzbekistan's Defence Ministry it was studying reports that an airplane with Afghan military identification marks on it has crashed. Uzbek media reported that the plane went down Sunday evening in the southeast of the country not far from the border with Afghanistan. At least one person was reported injured.
The Defence Ministry spokesman told Russia's state RIA Novosti news agency that it was conducting 'a thorough analysis' using videos and reports that have surfaced online.
16 August 2021, 14:25 PM
China willing to develop 'friendly relations' with Afghanistan's Taliban, reports ANI news agency
16 August 2021, 14:20 PM
Chancellor Angela Merkel's government is planning to deploy soldiers to Afghanistan to help with the evacuation of German nationals and Afghans in danger from the Taliban, AFP reported, quoting parliamentary sources.
16 August 2021, 14:19 PM
AI-174 San Francisco-Delhi is also expected to land at Sharjah in an hour, say reports.
