New Delhi: Special round cells are regulated by the Ministry of External (MEA) after the takeover of Kabul Taliban has focused on tracking Indians stranded in Afghanistan, ensuring assistance sought and advising further action.
According to a rough estimate, the number of Indians stranded in Afghanistan can be around 400 and India has seen ways to evacuate them including coordination with the US and other friendly countries, said people who are familiar with these developments.
The most difficult challenge to be evacuated which is trapped in Kabul is to arrange transportation from their residence to Kabul Airport because the Taliban has installed several layers of checkpoints throughout the city.
‘Special Afghan cells’ was established in the MEA on August 16 to coordinate repatriation and other requests from Afghanistan in a sleek way.
Current cells are manned by 24×7 by young officers from the MEA under the guidance and supervision of senior officers and more than 20 officials have been deployed for that, people who are familiar with the problem.
Officers who promised cell calls, responded to the e-mail and message WhatsApp, asked about the welfare and status of people now contacting them, they said.
It also renewed Indian databases that are still in Afghanistan, ascertaints of help are being searched, and suggest further action, they said.
Cells are arranged before the departure of personnel based in India from the Indian Embassy in Kabul to ensure a smooth contact of India is still left in Afghanistan.
It has worked in close coordination with various MEA divisions to ensure the smooth flow of information is the most updated for all related, the people quoted above.
The Taliban swept Afghanistan this month, grabbed the control of almost all the main cities and cities including Kabul in the background of the withdrawal of US troops.
Kabul fell to the Taliban on Sunday.
On Tuesday, India completed the evacuation of all diplomats and other staff members from the Afghan capital with difficult and complicated training, effectively closing its mission for the second time since 1996 when militant groups capture power.
The mission to evacuate close to 200 people including Indian envoys and other staff on two military aircraft was carried out with support from the US.
Following evacuations, MEA said the focus now is to ensure a safe return of all Indian citizens of the Afghan capital.
MEA says direct priority for the government is obtaining accurate information about all Indian citizens who currently live in Afghanistan.
It also asked Indians and their employers to immediately share detevant details with special Afghan cells.
“The Indian government is committed to safe returns from all Indian citizens and will institutionalize flight arrangements as the Kabul airport is open to commercial operations,” said Mea on Tuesday.
“Our direct priority is to obtain accurate information about all Indian citizens today in Afghanistan.
They and / or their employers are asked to urgently share details relevant to the special Afghan cells of MEA,” he said.