New Delhi, The Special Afghanistan Cell in the Ministry of External Affairs is in touch with stranded Indians as well as members of the Afghan Hindu-Sikh minority community in Afghanistan, even as 74 members of the minority community from Afghanistan, primarily Afghan Sikhs, have been evacuated from the country so far, the Lok Sabha was told.
Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, answering questions on Afghanistan, said the Government of India operated several special Indian Air Force and Air India flights under the "Operation Devi Shakti” to evacuate stranded Indian and Afghan nationals from Afghanistan, from August 16 to 25.
In view of the rapid deterioration in the security situation in Afghanistan, especially after August 15, a 24 x 7 Special Afghanistan Cell was set up in the MEA to facilitate repatriation and other requests from Afghanistan.
In the month of August alone, the Special Afghanistan Cell responded to 3,436 telephone calls, 9,581 WhatsApp messages and 4,569 emails. As a result, a total of 565 stranded people were evacuated under the "Operation Devi Shakti”.
A few Indians, who had contacted the Special Afghanistan Cell and desired to be evacuated, still remain stranded. The Special Afghanistan Cell is in touch with these Indians as well as the members of the Afghan Hindu-Sikh minority community.
Indian Embassy and Consulates in Afghanistan have always maintained regular contact with the members of Afghan Hindu-Sikh minority community which looked after the various Gurudwaras and Hindu temples in Afghanistan.
A total of 565 people including 438 Indians were evacuated from Afghanistan by the Government of India under the "Operation Devi Shakti”.
Following the rapid decline in the security situation in Afghanistan in mid-August 2021, all India-based personnel from our Embassy and other Consulates were recalled.