An Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft has taken off from Kabul with more than 120 Indian officials in it. The staff was brought inside the secure areas of the airport safely, late last evening, said sources.
On Monday evening, an Indian Air Force evacuation flight returned to India from Kabul with personnel and equipment. The aircraft returned with 46 personnel and some equipment. The aircraft first landed in Tajikistan in the morning due to chaos at the Kabul airport. It could land in Kabul only after the American security forces controlled the crowds. As per sources, there are around 500 Indian officials and security staff stuck in Afghanistan. Afghanistan has closed its airspace for civilian flights but military evacuations are being carried out with the help of US forces still stationed at the Kabul airport. The special flight circumvented Pakistani airspace and flew over Iran. India had kept C 17 Globemasters on standby for evacuation missions. One of them was sent to Afghanistan on Sunday and a second one took off from the Hindon air force station on the outskirts of Delhi on Monday. Afghanistan stares at an uncertain future as President Ashraf Ghani left the country just before Kabul fell into the hands of the Taliban on Sunday.
