Indian PM Narendra Modi holds talks with Putin on Afghan crisis

Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, had a telephonic conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the current situation in Afghanistan.

"Had a detailed and useful exchange of views with my friend President Putin on recent developments in Afghanistan. We also discussed issues on the bilateral agenda, including India-Russia cooperation against COVID-19. We agreed to continue close consultations on important issues," Prime Minister Modi said in a tweet on August 24.

Amid the escalating crisis in Afghanistan, the Indian government says it is working to ensure that all Indian citizens are safely brought back to the country.

Seventy-eight people, including children, arrived from Afghanistan on August 24 at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport in an Indian Air Force (IAF) flight. In the first phase of evacuation last week, India had brought back 146 of its nationals from the war-torn country.

India has been allowed to operate two flights per day from Kabul to evacuate its nationals stranded in Afghanistan. The permission was granted by American and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) forces, which have been controlling operations at the Hamid Karzai International Airport after the Afghan capital fell to the Taliban.

India, earlier this month, had also announced that it would issue an emergency e-visa to Afghan nationals who want to come to the country given the prevailing situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover.

The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that all Afghans, irrespective of religion, can apply for the 'e-Emergency X-Misc Visa' online. The applications will be processed in New Delhi, initially with a six-month validity.

(ANI)