Taliban Agrees to Let Afghans Leave Country After 31 Aug Deadline: Reports
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Taliban has agreed to continue to allow Afghans to leave the country after US withdrawal deadline of 31 August, reported AFP, citing the German envoy.
Meanwhile, all Afghan nationals must now travel to India only on e-Visa, the Indian government said on Wednesday, 25 August, citing the "prevailing security situation in Afghanistan and streamlining of the visa process by introduction of the e-Emergency X-Misc visa".
"Keeping in view some reports that certain passports of Afghan nationals have been misplaced, previously issued visas to all Afghan nationals, who are presently not in India, stand invalidated with immediate effect. Afghan nationals wishing to travel to India may apply for e-Visa at www.indianvisaonline.gov.in," the Ministry of Home Affairs said.
Further, US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday, that they are currently on pace to finish the evacuation in Afghanistan by 31 August, but added that the completion by that date depended on the Taliban's cooperation and allowing access for evacuees to the airport, with no disruptions.
The Taliban has warned that it would not accept any extension of the evacuation deadline
A Taliban spokesperson on Tuesday urged skilled Afghans to stop fleeing the country, and asked the US to stop taking 'experts' such as engineers and doctors out of the country
The Taliban took over Afghanistan on 15 August, as President Ashraf Ghani fled
With the Taliban's takeover, chaos emerged at the airport in Kabul with countries scrambling to evacuate their citizens, and locals desperate to flee the country
Taliban Agrees to Let Afghans Leave Country After 31 Aug: German Envoy
Taliban has agreed to continue to allow Afghans to leave the country after US withdrawal deadline of 31 August, reported AFP, citing the German envoy.
Russia Allows Around 1,000 Afghans to Enter the Country
Russia has allowed approximately 1,000 Afghans to enter the country from Afghanistan, as per Reuters.
US European Command Have Assisted 10,000 People for Transit Since 20 Aug: US Army Major General
US Army Major General William Taylor, on Wednesday, said:
"US troops maintain security at Kabul Airport in Afghanistan, and that security is strong. Since 20 August, the US European Command has assisted approximately 10,000 vulnerable Afghans and evacuees for transit to onward locations."
EAM Jaishankar Speaks to UK Counterpart About Afghanistan Developments
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday spoke to United Kingdom (UK) Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, with the conversation focusing on developments in Afghanistan.
Taliban Used Pakistan as a Support Base: Amrullah Saleh
Afghanistan's self-proclaimed acting president Amrullah Saleh, in an interview to CNN-News18, accused Pakistan of being at the “service” of Taliban.
“It’s very clear that the Taliban were never under pressure; they used Pakistan as their support base. Not sanctuaries, the whole of Pakistan was at the service of Taliban,” Saleh reportedly said.
Further he alleged that the US attempts to “buy” Pakistani cooperation paved way for no results as “the more they paid, the more it emboldened the Pakistanis to provide more services and aid to the Taliban so the issue of a nuclear state sponsoring terrorism and insurgency against western allies in Afghanistan was never addressed”.
No COVID +Ve Cases Among 78 People Evacuated from Afghanistan: ITBP
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police said on Wednesday that there are no COVID-19 positive cases among the 78 people who had been evacuated from Afghanistan and are presently under institutional quarantine at its facility in Delhi.
Talks With Taliban Must Continue for Afghan Gains: German Chancellor
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, on Wednesday, as per AFP, said that talks with Taliban must continue to safeguard Afghan gains.
All Afghan Nationals Must Now Travel to India Only on E-Visa: Centre
All Afghan nationals must now travel to India only on e-Visa, the Centre said on Wednesday, citing the "prevailing security situation in Afghanistan and streamlining of the visa process by introduction of the e-Emergency X-Misc visa".
"Keeping in view some reports that certain passports of Afghan nationals have been misplaced, previously issued visas to all Afghan nationals, who are presently not in India, stand invalidated with immediate effect. Afghan nationals wishing to travel to India may apply for e-Visa at www.indianvisaonline.gov.in," the Ministry of Home Affairs said.
US Has Helped Evacuate Over 70,000 From Afghanistan Since 14 August: Biden
US President Joe Biden said that they are currently on pace to finish the evacuation in Afghanistan by 31 August, but added that the completion by that date depended on the Taliban's cooperation and allowing access for evacuees to the airport, with no disruptions.
However, the US President has asked the Pentagon and the State Department for contingency plans to adjust the timeline if that becomes necessary, the White House press secretary said.
The US has evacuated or facilitated the evacuation of around 70,700 people from Afghanistan since 14 August, Biden pointed out.
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