India evacuates diplomats from Kandahar consulate

India has pulled out around 50 diplomats and security personnel from its consulate in Kandahar in Afghanistan in view of the deteriorating security situation, the Telegraph reported.

Other Indian media outlets reported that a special India Air Force aircraft was despatched to Kandahar to evacuate the consulate personnel on Saturday adding that India will also be evacuating a group of Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel.

Last week India’s ministry of external affairs said it was carefully monitoring the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and its implications on the safety and security of Indian nationals.

“Our response will be calibrated accordingly,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing on Thursday.

India’s foreign ministry has issued a statement saying the Consulate General of India in Kandahar has not been closed but that it’s Indian staff have returned home. This is a temporary measure and the Consulate continues to operate through its local staff, the statement read.

India’s foreign ministry also said arrangements are being made to ensure continued delivery of visa and consular services through its Embassy in Kabul.

“As an important partner of Afghanistan’s, India remains committed to a peaceful, sovereign and democratic Afghanistan,” the statement read.