India's evacuation mission from Afghanistan named "Operation Devi Shakti"

| | New Delhi
  • 0

India's evacuation mission from Afghanistan named "Operation Devi Shakti"

Tuesday, 24 August 2021 | PTI | New Delhi

India's evacuation mission from Afghanistan named

India's complex mission to evacuate its citizens and Afghan partners from Kabul after its swift takeover by the Taliban last week has been named as "Operation Devi Shakti".

The name of the operation was known when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar mentioned it in a tweet on Tuesday while referring to the arrival of a fresh batch of 78 evacuees in Delhi.

"Op Devi Shakti continues. 78 evacuees from Kabul arrive via Dushanbe. Salute @IAF_MCC, @AirIndiain and #TeamMEA for their untiring efforts. #DeviShakti," he said.

India began the complex evacuation mission by airlifting 40 Indians from Kabul to Delhi on August 16, a day after the Taliban seized control of the Afghan capital city.

So far, India has evacuated over 800 people amid a deteriorating security situation in Kabul and scramble by various nations to rescue their citizens.

Thousands of Afghans have been crowding around the Kabul airport for over a week, in a desperate attempt to flee the country fearing the Taliban's brutality.

At a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 17 directed officials to ensure the safe evacuation of all Indians from Afghanistan and provide refuge to Afghan Sikhs and Hindus wanting to come to India.

In the last few days, India stepped up its efforts to evacuate Indians and its Afghan partners from Kabul amid increasing hostilities by the Taliban.

After India evacuated the Indian embassy staff from Kabul on August 17, Jaishankar had described the mission as a "difficult and complicated" exercise.

On Tuesday, India brought back 78 people, including 25 of its nationals and a number of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus from Dushanbe, a day after they were evacuated from Kabul to the Tajik city.

Sunday Edition

Food Freak | Lobsters Take Centre Stage at Grappa Pop-Up

24 November 2024 | Pawan Soni | Agenda

A Cozy Escape

24 November 2024 | Abhi Singhal | Agenda

Reviving Telangana’s Culinary Heritage

24 November 2024 | Sharmila Chand | Agenda

The art and spirit of cake mixing

24 November 2024 | Team Viva | Agenda

LUXURY CONVERGE AT HONG KONG

24 November 2024 | AKANKSHA DEAN | Agenda

Discovering the World’s True Essence

24 November 2024 | RUPALI DEAN | Agenda