India Evacuates Its Ambassador After Taliban Take Control Of Kabul

People try to enter Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan (ANTARA/Reuters)

JAKARTA - Indian Embassy officials in Kabul, including its ambassador are being evacuated from the Afghan capital. This was conveyed by the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India in New Delhi on Tuesday, August 17.

"Given the current circumstances, it has been decided that our ambassador in Kabul and the staff of the Indian embassy will be immediately transferred to India", Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Arindam Bagchi said on Twitter.

Thousands of people desperate to flee Afghanistan thronged Kabul's airport on Monday after the Taliban seized the capital Kabul, forcing the United States to halt evacuations.

Taliban insurgents entered Kabul on Sunday and President Ashraf Ghani left Afghanistan. Ghani said he wanted to avoid bloodshed.

The situation brings the Taliban closer to taking power in Afghanistan, 20 years after they were ousted by a US-led invasion of foreign forces.

Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem Naeem said no diplomats or embassies were targeted in the attack and the Taliban would ensure the safety of foreign nationals and diplomatic missions.