"Monitoring situation, focus on security, evacuation": India on Afghanistan developments

Record ID: 1633933

  • Title: "Monitoring situation, focus on security, evacuation": India on Afghanistan developments
  • Date: 27th August 2021
  • Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (AUGUST 27, 2021) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, ARINDAM BAGCHI ADDRESSING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, ARINDAM BAGCHI, SAYING: "We have been seeking a peaceful, prosperous, democratic Afghanistan. We understand that there have been changes on the ground. We are currently monitoring it very closely. I think the current focus is on security situation, on Afghanistan evacuations, and seeing how it unfolds. I think most of the countries are also in that frame of, I would say, to wait and watch. I think that is being considering the changes on the ground and while there is same greater clarity and stability that emerges in Afghanistan." BAGCHI BRIFING MEDIAPERSONS (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, ARINDAM BAGCHI, SAYING: "E-emergency visas - these are six month visas. So, they (refugees) are coming here currently under the six month visa regime and we will take it from there, see at the end of what happens there. Immediately, that's the current plan of six months. As I said, this is an evolving situation, I think making long-term plans is not in the best of ideas, considering the changes in the last few days." BAGCHI BRIFING MEDIAPERSONS (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, ARINDAM BAGCHI, SAYING: "We have been having a close coordination with the United States during the evacuation process. They are maintaining the airport security over there now. We also coordinated with Tajikistan from Dushanbe Airport. We also coordinated with other countries regarding over-flight, like Iran or Uzbekistan. Such cooperation benefited us greatly and we were able to bring home a lot of people." NEW DELHI, INDIA (AUGUST 27, 2021) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) (MUTE) PRESS BRIEFING CONCLUDING/ REPORTERS LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 10th September 2021 14:40
  • Keywords: Afghanistan India Taliban USA conflict emergency visa evacuation foreign ministry government refugee security
  • Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA
  • City: NEW DELHI, INDIA
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001ES21367
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Indian foreign ministry said on Friday (August 27) safety and evacuation from Afghanistan is its top priority amid the present turmoil.
    "We understand that there have been changes on the ground and we are currently monitoring it very closely. I think the current focus is on security situation, on Afghanistan evacuations, and seeing how it unfolds," said foreign ministry spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi during a press briefing.
    The dreaded militant outfit Taliban entered Kabul on August 15 after rapidly taking over much of the country, prompting chaotic scenes at the airport as crowds scrambled to escape.
    India has been carrying out evacuations of Indian nationals, Afghans among others from Afghanistan.
    Regarding the refugee situation unfolding in India, Bagchi said, "they (refugees) are coming here currently under the six month visa regime, this is an evolving situation, I think making long-term plans is not in the best of ideas."
    India has evacuated more than 550 people from Afghanistan till date in six emergency flights from Kabul and Dushanbe. Of these, more than 260 people were Indian nationals and others included Afghan refugees, Nepali citizens and others.
    However, a blast outside the gates of Kabul airport as one Islamic State suicide bomber killed 85 people including 13 U.S. soldiers has raised security concerns.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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