According to reports, Indian citizens are among those kidnapped in Kabul, but a Taliban spokesman denies this
New Delhi: As the evacuation process in Afghanistan continues, several media reports on Saturday (August 21, 2021) claimed that the Taliban had kidnapped up to 150 people in Kabul, including Indian citizens. The kidnapped individuals were reportedly awaiting evacuation from the war-torn country.
The Taliban’s spokesman, however, has reportedly denied the allegations.
According to reports, the Taliban insurgents kidnapped an Indian coordinator who was in Kabul to assist with the evacuation of people from Afghanistan. According to an eyewitness, after learning Zohib’s identity, the Taliban insurgents demanded his ID card, snatched his phone, and slapped him.
Meanwhile, approximately 85 Indian nationals were evacuated from Kabul on Saturday by an Indian Air Force transport military aircraft. After evacuating the Indians, the aircraft landed in Tajikistan’s Dushanbe and is scheduled to arrive at the Hindon airbase near Delhi in the evening.
India, for example, has already evacuated 200 people, including the Indian envoy and other embassy personnel in Kabul, using two IAF C-17 heavy-lift transport planes.
According to some reports, the total number of Indians stranded in Afghanistan could be in the 400s. Earlier on August 17, the Ministry of External Affairs stated that their top priority is to obtain accurate information on all Indian nationals who are currently in Afghanistan. They also asked Indian nationals to contact the MEA’s Special Afghanistan Cell at +91-11-49016783, +91-11-49016784, +91-11-49016785, or WhatsApp: +91 80106 11290, or email: [email protected].
The situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated since the Taliban took control of Kabul in the aftermath of the US troop withdrawal after more than two decades.
