INDIANS STUCK IN AFGHANISTAN STRUGGLE TO RETURN HOME

NEW DELHI: Indian citizens scrambling to escape the Taliban occupation in Afghanistan are facing several challenges, ranging from the inability to get in touch with any embassy official and a sealed airport to difficulties in getting Covid test reports as necessitated by the Indian government for taking a flight, even as the ministry of external affairs on Monday said that the Centre will “ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals in Afghanistan”.

A 32-year-old man from Kolkata, working with a local non-government organisation in Kabul for the last two years, spent Monday morning trying to reach the Hamid Karzai International airport only to find out that it was shut for commercial flights.

Taliban fighters swept into Afghanistan’s capital on Sunday after the government collapsed and President Ashraf Ghani left the country.

According to a NOTAM (notice to airmen) issued by the Kabul airport authorities on Monday, the Afghan airspace has been released to the military and any aircraft transit through it “will be uncontrolled”. In another NOTAM, it was stated that the airport has been shut down until further notice.

“I managed to reach Kabul airport but there were 8,000 or 9000 people trying to get a flight, none of them had tickets ... the airport was guarded by Taliban and they couldn’t control the crowds and so they opened fire...later, I came to know that commercial flights are banned,” said the 30-yearold man, who didn’t want to be identified for fear of persecution.

India on Monday said it will take all steps for the security of Indians and nation’s interests in Afghanistan and facilitate the repatriation of Sikhs and Hindus who wish to leave the country.

“I was supposed to take the last flight out yesterday but couldn’t get a Covid negative report as mandated by the Indian authorities... So I booked today’s (Monday’s) flight...our lives are in danger,’’ said the man waiting to return to India.