Indians residing in Afghanistan breathed a sigh of relief on returning to their homeland as the Air Force C-17 aircraft carrying 130 Indian officials from Afganistan landed in Jamnagar, Gujarat at 11:00 am on Tuesday. The flight will depart for Delhi at 1:00 pm after all the passengers undergo medical checkups. Lunch is also to be provided on the airport premises.
Thereafter, the Union Home Ministry made an announcement of a new category called ‘e-Emergency X-Misc Visa’ of visa to fast track the applications of Afghans who want to come to India. The announcement comes two days after the Taliban captured power in Afghanistan.
Key points of the Emergency Visas
- All Afghans, irrespective of their religion can apply for the emergency visa
- Applicants could apply for visas online which would then be examined and processed in New Delhi
- The visa will be initially valid for six months
- Security issues will be taken in consideration while examining and processing the applications and granting visas to Afghan nationals
Thousands of Afghans rushed into Kabul’s main airport on Monday to escape the Taliban. They held onto a military jet as it took off and plunged to their deaths.
The Ministry of External Affairs had earlier informed that the Indian Ambassador in Kabul and the Indian staff will move to India immediately in view of prevailing circumstances in the war-torn country.
An ITBP official stated that they were in touch with the Taliban and they picked the Indians last night and took them safely to Kabul airport. After waiting in a car for five or six hours at night, they reached Jamnagar on an Indian Air Force plane at 11:00 am.
Poonam Maadam, MP of Loksabha from Jamnagar stated that PM Modi is governing the whole situation and putting his best efforts to better the situation.
Taliban entered Kabul on Sunday and took control of the presidential palace after which the Afghanistan government collapsed with President Ashraf Ghani leaving the country. Earlier the same day, an Air India flight A1244 carrying 129 passengers had arrived in Delhi from Kabul. They expressed about the safety and security of people back home stating that the situation in the country is really bad.
