INDIAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT SET TO FLY OUT 180 FROM AFGHANISTAN TODAY

NEW DELHI: India was set to evacuate up to 180 people, including its nationals and Afghan citizens, in a military aircraft from Afghanistan on Wednesday ahead of the looming August 31 deadline for withdrawal of US and foreign troops.

Indian officials have been working in trying circumstances to get all Indian nationals who have been traced and Afghan citizens, including Hindus and Sikhs, to the Kabul airport in the face of assertions by the Taliban that they would not allow the evacuation of Afghans.

The desperate evacuation operations at Kabul by all countries have picked up pace after the Taliban warned that the US must adhere to the deadline for pulling out all its troops. There are also concerns about possible suicide attacks on the airport and the crowds there by the Islamic State-khorasan, with US President Joe Biden personally acknowledging the threat.

An Indian military aircraft was set to fly out up to 180 people late on Wednesday night, people familiar with developments said on condition of anonymity. The group is expected to reach India on Thursday.

As with recent evacuation efforts, Afghan citizens given Indian visas have had problems in accessing Kabul airport because of strict checks being conducted by Taliban fighters on all routes. There have been several instances of Afghans with Indian visas being turned back by the Taliban, the people said.

The Pentagon on Wednesday said military flights from Kabul will continue until the final hours of the August 31 deadline.

THE EVACUATION OPS AT KABUL BY ALL COUNTRIES HAVE PICKED UP PACE AFTER THE TALIBAN WARNED THAT THE US MUST ADHERE TO THE DEADLINE FOR PULLING OUT ALL ITS TROOPS