Centre: leave Afghanistan in todays special flight!
Indian citizens in afghanistan are being urged to board a "special flight" from Mazar-e-Sharif to New Delhi. The news comes as the Taliban prepare to attack the region's largest city from many directions. The Taliban are attempting to seize control of the country's major entry point from Pakistan. "Any indian nationals in and near Mazar-e-Sharif are urged to leave for india on the special flight planned to depart late this evening: Consulate General of india in Mazar-e-Sharif, afghanistan," the indian consulate in Afghanistan's Mazar city stated in an announcement.
"Indian people wishing to depart by special flight should immediately communicate their complete name, passport number, and expiration date via whatsapp at the following numbers: 0785891303, 0785891301," according to the notification.
Due to the deteriorating security situation in afghanistan, with the Taliban seizing control of fresh regions, india removed approximately 50 indian diplomats and security officers from its consulate in Kandahar last month.
Around 1,500 indians are now residing in afghanistan, according to government figures.
Danish Siddiqui, an indian photojournalist, was murdered while documenting a confrontation between Afghan security forces and Taliban insurgents in Kandahar's Spin Boldak area. The indian embassy in Kabul has advised indian people visiting, residing, and working in afghanistan to exercise extreme caution and avoid any non-essential travel.