There are four reasons why External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is in talks with the UN Secretary-General for the possible evacuation of Indian nationals from Sudan. (Image: News18/File)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made a stopover in New York on his way to Latin American countries to discuss the safety of Indian nationals stranded in trouble-torn Sudan.
India is prepared with a contingency plan even as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stopped in New York on Thursday en route to Latin American countries to discuss the situation in Sudan with the UN Secretary-General.
The Central Government is making all possible efforts to coordinate the security of Indian nationals stranded in Sudan. There are four reasons why Jaishankar is in talks with the UN Secretary-General regarding the possible evacuation of Indian nationals.
First, to see if Indians can travel with UN staff or whether the UN can help India with evacuation or even get basic supplies like food and water for the stranded people. Second, India is directly talking to the stakeholders in Sudan and the Indian Embassy is in touch with the operational level commanders of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Army to explore an opportunity for the safe evacuation of Indians.
Third, since US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had called for a ceasefire within a day, evacuation and supplies could still be started if that happened and forces could stop. The Eid ceasefire is an option, but it would be too short a window to conduct a large-scale operation.
Fourth, aid from the Gulf countries of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as from Egypt. India has sought help from these three countries as they have more influence on Sudan. During talks with these countries, the focus was their assessment of the entire situation and whether they can offer support on the ground or India can use its assets for basic supplies.
Port Sudan city is quite peaceful and could be a point through which evacuation could take place, if there is a possibility. As far as evacuation through neighboring countries is concerned, it would be around 1,000 to 1,200 km from the mainland and there is a huge risk to life in traveling by road. In Ukraine, India evacuated its citizens through neighboring countries but the chances are less here and the situation is even more dangerous.
The area outside the Indian Embassy is the worst affected and even the staff are working from secure locations. Government sources said the situation is worse than in Afghanistan as there is indiscriminate firing on the streets.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that the control room had received over 100 calls in the last few days.
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