India evacuates 168 people on flight from Kabul

People evacuated from Kabul arrive at Hindon Air force base near New Delhi, India. Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (AP Photo)

People evacuated from Kabul arrive at Hindon Air force base near New Delhi, India. Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (AP)

• India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said the plane took off from Kabul on Sunday morning
• Passengers on board included 107 Indian nationals

NEW DELHI: An Indian official says an air force transport plane has left Kabul for New Delhi carrying 168 people on board.
Arindam Bagchi, the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, says the plane took off from Kabul on Sunday morning and the passengers include 107 Indian nationals. He didn’t give the nationalities of 61 others evacuated from the Afghan capital.
Meanwhile, another group of 87 Indians who were evacuated from Kabul to Tajikistan on Saturday in an Indian air force plane are being flown to New Delhi on Sunday, Bagchi said in a tweet. Two Nepalese nationals also were evacuated on that flight.
India began evacuating its nationals last Sunday after the Taliban swept into Kabul.
The Press Trust of India news agency said around 400 Indians were believed to be stranded in Afghanistan. No official figure was available.