New Delhi, Dec 3 (UNI) The Special Afghanistan Cell in the Ministry of External Affairs is in touch with stranded Indians as well as members of the Afghan Hindu-Sikh minority community in Afghanistan, even as 74 members of the minority community from Afghanistan, primarily Afghan Sikhs, have been evacuated from the country so far, the Lok Sabha was told.
Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, answering questions on Afghanistan, said the Government of India operated several special Indian Air Force and Air India flights under the "Operation Devi Shakti” to evacuate stranded Indian and Afghan nationals from Afghanistan, from August 16 to 25.
In view of the rapid deterioration in the security situation in Afghanistan, especially after August 15, a 24 x 7 Special Afghanistan Cell was set up in the MEA to facilitate repatriation and other requests from Afghanistan.