As the evacuation exercise in Yemen nears completion, India on Tuesday diverted its resources to help rescue nationals of nearly 26 countries from the strife-torn nation, even as it accepted Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s offer to send back 11 Indians, evacuated by Pakistani Navy in Yemen, by a special plane. Accepting the Indian Government’s assistance to stranded foreigners, the US has urged its citizens in Yemen to take advantage of the offer and contact Indian Embassy officials.
India has rescued over 4,000 of its nationals so far and about 1,000 more came out of Yemen on Tuesday. According to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) officials, 4,100 Indians had registered with the Indian Mission in Yemen for evacuation. With almost all of its nationals out, India plans to wind up its air evacuation from Sana’a by Wednesday.
The Government, however, may continue the evacuation by sea for some more time to help other nationals and also bring back those handful of Indians who may decide to come back at the last minute.
The 11 Indians, who were evacuated by Pakistani Navy from Yemen’s southeastern city of Mukallah, reached Karachi on Tuesday and are expected to return home on Wednesday. An Indian High Commission team was at the port to meet the Indian evacuees and facilitate their return. The Pakistani PM has offered a special plane to carry them home which India has agreed to.
“India accepts Pakistan’s offer to fly back from Karachi by special plane 11 Indians evacuated by Pakistani naval ship from Yemen,” MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted.
Vk singh’s comment invites trouble again
New Delhi: A sarcastic remark by Gen (Retd) VK Singh, saying overseeing the evacuation of Indians from Yemen “seems to be less exciting than his going to the Pakistani Embassy,” led to strong criticism from the public on the social media. Singh has been deputed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to oversee evacuation of nearly 4,500 Indians living in war-torn Yemen.