Special flight to evacuate Indians from Afghanistan's Mazar-e-Sharif
Kabul: Consulate General of India in Mazar-e-Sharif has arranged a special flight for Indian nationals in and around Mazar-e-Sharif amidst the raging fight between Taliban and government forces in Afghanistan. Indian nationals are requested to leave for India on the special flight scheduled to depart late Tuesday evening.
Consulate General of India announced the special flight arrangement on Twitter. Also, Indian citizens desiring to leave by special flight are requested to convey their full name, passport number, date of expiry by WhatsApp.
The Taliban has been making rapid advances across Afghanistan by resorting to widespread violence since the Joe Biden administration started withdrawing the US Armed Forces. The Taliban has seized six provincial capitals, including Kunduz, during the last four days.
A day before, Congress leader Jaiveer Shergill wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and asked for the immediate evacuation of Hindus and Sikhs on special visas from Afghanistan.
Indian consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif was already functioning with reduced staff and was also without consul general after last official to hold the post died of Covid-19 in May.
Mazar-e-Sharif, is the fourth-largest city in Afghanistan, with a population estimate of 500,207 people. It is the capital of Balkh province and is linked by highways with Kunduz in the east, Kabul in the southeast, Herat in the southwest and Termez in Uzbekistan in the north.
