India evacuates Kandahar consulate staff

Around 50 Indian diplomats and other staff members at the consulate in Afghanistan's Kandahar have been evacuated in view of the "intense fighting near Kandahar city" ministry of external affairs has said. The fighting started as the Taliban tries to regain control over the country as the US pulls out its forces after nearly two decades, sources have said. The personnel at the consulate were flown to Delhi last evening by special Air Force plane. "The Consulate General of India in Kandahar has not been closed. However, due to the intense fighting near Kandahar city, India-based personnel have been brought back for the time being. I want to emphasize that this is a purely temporary measure until the situation stabilizes. The Consulate continues to operate through our local staff members," added the statement by External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

Our response to media queries on the Indian Consulate in Kandahar:
https://t.co/aQ0YPgl6Vf pic.twitter.com/DAPT3kYdM4

— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) July 11, 2021

The Indian embassy has asked all Indians visiting, staying and working in Afghanistan to exercise the utmost caution and avoid all non-essential travel in the country.In its advisory, the embassy said the security situation remains "dangerous" and terror groups have carried out a series of attacks targeting civilians. Indian nationals additionally face a "serious threat" of kidnapping, the ministry said.

Over the last few weeks, Afghanistan witnessed a series of terror attacks as the US looked to complete the withdrawal of its forces by the end of August, ending its military presence in the war-ravaged country for nearly two decades.