Kabul: An Afghan security personnel walks around the rubble after the attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, August 4, 2021.
According to the Indian embassy in Kabul on Thursday, three Indian engineers working at a project site in an area not under the control of Afghan government forces were recently airlifted. The embassy, citing the engineers’ defense in the new security advisory, called on all Indians in Afghanistan to strictly follow the measures outlined by it in view of the escalation in violence in that country.
“Recently a case that required emergency air rescue of three Indian engineers who remained at a dam project site, in an area that was not under the control of government forces, has come to light that this embassy’s advice was received. Indian citizens are not heeding its advice and continue to put themselves in mortal danger,” the embassy said in a fresh advisory.
It is learned that the engineers were working in an area which has been under Taliban control.
“The Embassy of India in Kabul once again underscores the need to fully comply with the steps in the security advisory provided from time to time to all Indian nationals,” the advisory said.
The embassy had issued separate security advisories on June 29, July 24 and August 10, recommending several measures to ensure the safety of Indians living in that country.
“The precautions and safeguards outlined in the above three advisories remain valid. All Indian citizens in Afghanistan are once again requested to strictly adhere to the measures advocated,” the new advisory said.
The embassy in its advisory on Tuesday strongly advised all Indian nationals residing in Afghanistan to make immediate travel arrangements for their return home before shutting down commercial air services from the country in view of the huge escalation in violence.
It strongly advised Indian companies operating in Afghanistan to immediately withdraw their Indian employees from project sites before discontinuing air travel services from the country.
In the latest advisory, the embassy also asked Indian journalists present in Afghanistan to cover the latest developments to take additional security measures.
“As a recent tragic event, the public profile of Indian journalists in Afghanistan involves additional risks,” in an apparent reference to the killing of Pulitzer Prize-winning Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui in Kandahar last month.
“It is therefore advised that members of the Indian media should take additional security measures for their stay and movement within Afghanistan, including interviews and planned coverage prior to their arrival in Afghanistan, as well as the identification of well-established security logistics firms.” security arrangements for the stay and movement of journalists.”
The Taliban have been increasingly moving across Afghanistan, resorting to widespread violence, since the United States began withdrawing its troops from the country on May 1.
The US has already withdrawn most of its forces and is looking to complete the drawdown by August 31. India engages with several stakeholders and major powers on the latest developments in Afghanistan.
Read also: Taliban capture Kandahar, Afghanistan’s second largest city
Read also: Indian Embassy Kabul issues security advisory to Indian citizens, journalists in Afghanistan
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