Left Behind: The Plight Of Indians Stranded In Afghanistan

The number of Indians trapped in Afghanistan is unclear. A report by Manav Sachdeva, a former senior official with the UN in Afghanistan, claimed that at least 100 Indians were still trapped in the country after the government failed to evacuate them following the Taliban takeover. Sachdeva also stated that many Indians felt betrayed by their government due to the lack of clarity and safety measures. While the Indian government's evacuation operation expatriated over 260 Indians from Afghanistan, it is unknown how many remain. Some Indians who were not evacuated are now considering dangerous land routes to neighbouring countries.

Around 100 Indians were left in Afghanistan after the government's evacuation operation

The Indian government's evacuation operation successfully expatriated over 260 Indians from Afghanistan. However, it failed to reach everyone, leaving a group of at least 100 Indians trapped in the country. Manav Sachdeva, a former senior official with the UN in Afghanistan, emphasised that many Indians felt betrayed by their government due to the lack of clarity and safe measures. The Indians who were left behind complained about the lack of communication and clear plans from the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure their safety and evacuation.

The Indians who decided to stay in Afghanistan did so either inadvertently or by their own volition. Some felt a sense of duty and wanted to give back to the country after decades of association. Others felt that it wasn't safe to evacuate during the rush following the Taliban takeover on August 15. The Taliban's control and identification of Indians as one of their prime targets further heightened the sense of fear and urgency among those stranded.

The Indian government's evacuation operation, known as Operation Devi Shakti, successfully brought back all Indians who were left in Afghanistan after the 2021 Taliban offensive and the Fall of Kabul. While the exact number of Indians evacuated during this operation is not mentioned, it is clear that the Indian government made efforts to ensure the safe return of its citizens.

Some Indians are considering dangerous land routes to neighbouring countries

Some Indians stranded in Afghanistan are considering dangerous land routes to neighbouring countries, including Pakistan. These journeys could cost them their lives in the absence of clear security plans from the Indian government.

The Taliban has set up extra checkpoints on the main road north from Kabul, making the journey to the borders perhaps as perilous as crossing them.

There are three main directions in which those fleeing the Taliban by land are likely to go: towards Pakistan, towards Iran, or towards the "Stans" of Central Asia.

The biggest crowds in recent weeks have been observed at the southern border with Pakistan. However, getting there would be a major challenge as much of the border region is either in high, mountainous terrain, where the weather can be unpredictable, or surrounded by hundreds of miles of desert.

The border between Afghanistan and Pakistan is highly porous, and for decades, Afghans with tribal or commercial connections passed into and out of Pakistan, largely ignoring the fact they were in two separate countries. However, Pakistan has recently deployed its army along the border to block an anticipated wave of refugees.

The main crossing at Torkham is officially open for trade and restricted pedestrian movement, but extra checks have been put in place, slowing the process for people who wish to enter. Only stranded people on both sides and trucks taking goods to Afghanistan can pass through.

Queues at the Torkham crossing have led to frustration. On 28 August, Pakistani security forces opened fire on Afghans trying to illegally enter Pakistan, killing two and wounding two more.

The other main crossing point between Afghanistan and Pakistan is at Chaman, also known as Spin Boldak. Pakistani newspaper Dawn recently reported that the crossing was closed, but on Tuesday the Associated Press reported that several dozen families had made it through.

The Dasht-e-Margo desert, or "Desert of Death", is a common route for those fleeing towards Iran. This route involves traversing several hundred kilometres of arid landscape with no major roads near the border.

Northern Afghanistan shares borders with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. There are two official crossings into Turkmenistan, but they are currently closed to all Afghans.

The Panj river acts as a major natural barrier to escape for refugees. Several bridges act as border crossings, some of which have been funded by EU and US aid money in the past 20 years.

The Tajikistan-Afghanistan border is expected to receive the highest number of Afghan refugees along the northern borders. More than a quarter of Afghans are of Tajik ethnicity, with many provinces in the northeast of Afghanistan majority Tajik.

All official routes north are currently closed until 20 September. However, fencing and walls do not cover such a large portion of the boundary line with Tajikistan, and a shallow point in the river may be enough of an opportunity to make it across.

There is a crossing to China, but even getting to Afghanistan's eastern border through the Wakhan corridor would be a huge challenge, with the rough unmotorable track leading to the frontier surrounded by mountains that are several thousand metres high.

The Wakhjir Pass, at an altitude of almost 5,000 metres, is not an official border crossing and the immediate area beyond the pass on the Chinese side is only accessible to the military.

Indians in Afghanistan are scared to leave their homes due to being a Taliban target

The Taliban's harsh restrictions and discrimination against Hindus and Sikhs have been well-documented. During their rule from 1996 to 2001, Hindus were forced to wear yellow badges in public to identify themselves as non-Muslims, and Hindu women had to wear burqas, purportedly to "protect" them from harassment. In 2001, the Taliban issued an edict requiring Hindu males to wear red dots (tilak) on their foreheads and black caps as identification when outside their homes. Hindu women were forced to wear yellow dresses and iron necklaces.

With the Taliban tightening its control over Afghanistan once again, Indians in the country are terrified. They are desperate for evacuation but feel let down by the lack of clear communication and safe measures from their government. They are anxious, depressed, and scared for their lives, with some even considering dangerous land routes to neighbouring countries. As the Taliban imposes stricter decrees on clothing and the presence of a male guardian for women, the fear among Indians in Afghanistan only increases.

The Indian citizens stranded in Afghanistan, including those who worked with the previous Afghan government and international organisations, are now battling to make their voices heard. They anxiously wait for the Indian government to devise an exit plan and bring them back home safely.

Indians in Afghanistan are running out of money due to scarce job opportunities

Since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, Indians in Afghanistan have been facing dwindling job opportunities, leaving them stranded in the country with little financial support. The takeover has resulted in a sharp contraction and reconfiguration of the Afghan economy, with reduced aid, steep declines in investment confidence, and disruptions to public services.

Prior to the Taliban's rise to power, there were approximately 3,000 Indian nationals in Afghanistan, many of whom worked for reconstruction companies, international aid agencies, or as diplomats in consulates and embassies. However, with the Taliban now in control, most foreigners have abandoned the country, and those who remain face significant challenges.

One Indian citizen, Sunil*, who has worked in Afghanistan for a decade, reports that he is running out of money due to the scarcity of jobs. He hasn't received a salary for over two months and is unsure when he will be paid again. The banks in Afghanistan have imposed a weekly withdrawal limit of $200, further exacerbating the financial difficulties faced by those in the country.

The situation is dire for all Afghans, with food prices soaring and widespread unemployment. The Taliban's restrictions on women's participation in the workplace have disproportionately affected women workers, causing significant job losses in key sectors such as agriculture and the civil service.

The Indian citizens who chose to stay in Afghanistan, either inadvertently or by choice, now find themselves in a precarious situation, contemplating dangerous journeys to neighbouring countries in the absence of clear evacuation plans from the Indian government.

The future looks uncertain for those left behind, with limited job prospects and a struggling economy. It remains to be seen whether the Indian government will devise an exit strategy for its stranded citizens or find a way to improve their economic situation in Afghanistan.

The Indian government has been criticised for its lack of clear communication

A group of Indian citizens stranded in Afghanistan has accused the Indian government of abandonment and failing to evacuate them. These citizens, who worked with the previous Afghan government and international organisations, fear retaliation from the Taliban and are anxious to leave the country. They have shared their concerns about the lack of communication from the Indian government regarding evacuation plans. One citizen, Sunil, who has worked in Afghanistan for a decade, reports that he is running out of money due to the scarcity of jobs and the withdrawal limit imposed by banks. He and other Indians in Afghanistan are considering dangerous land routes to neighbouring countries due to the absence of clear security plans from the Indian government.

Manav Sachdeva, a former senior official with the UN in Afghanistan, confirms that a group of at least 100 Indians were left behind after the Indian government's evacuation operation. Another Indian expat, Anita, shares that there has been a lack of responsiveness from the Ministry of External Affairs, and they have not received clear plans for their evacuation. She describes a sense of isolation and anxiety among the Indians stranded in Afghanistan, who feel let down by their government.

The Indian government's evacuation efforts have been described as inadequate, with criticism levelled at the Ministry of External Affairs for failing to communicate clear plans to ensure the safety of its citizens. This lack of communication has left Indian citizens in Afghanistan feeling anxious, scared, and abandoned.

The Indian government's initial response to the Taliban takeover included evacuating its diplomats from Kabul and closing its embassy in Afghanistan. While India has not recognised the Taliban government, it has engaged in backchannel communications and met with Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar. India's main concerns regarding the situation in Afghanistan centre around security threats and the potential influence of its regional rival, Pakistan.

The Indian government's lack of clear communication and inadequate evacuation efforts have contributed to a sense of uncertainty and fear among Indian citizens stranded in Afghanistan, who are desperate for a safe way out of the country.

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