<p>Hamid Karzai reportedly pleaded with Indian Ambassador Rudrendra Tandon to stay in Kabul when India was about to close its embassy there on August 15 of last year following the Taliban takeover.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to TOLO news, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, today said on Twitter that the recently "re-opened" Indian embassy in Kabul is anticipated to expand activities.</p>

<p>"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan appreciates this step of India, which wants to increase the level of diplomatic representation of its embassy in Kabul," said Abdul Qahar Balkhi in a Tweet.</p>

<p>The "technical team," which has been stationed there since June and focuses on commercial and trade opportunities as well as the provision of food and medical supplies, will expand the Embassy's operations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India and the Afghan people have shared historical and cultural ties. Another Indian team recently went to Kabul to supervise the distribution of our humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and met with Taliban leaders. An evaluation of the security situation was also done during the visit.</p>

<p>Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-nations-display-military-might-at-international-army-games-hosted-by-russia-508292">&nbsp;In pics: Nations display military might at International Army Games hosted by Russia</a></p>

<p>Local workers provided consular services in the Indian Embassy in Kabul, according to local media sources, and it was never shuttered.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On August 15 of last year, the Taliban invaded Kabul, forcing the US-backed government to resign. The group revealed the make-up of Afghanistan's new interim government later in September.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ongoing economic, humanitarian, and security catastrophe caused by the Taliban takeover is wreaking havoc on the nation. The Afghan people have received many forms of support from the international community, including aid from governments and humanitarian organisations.</p>

<p><em>(with inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Hamid Karzai reportedly pleaded with Indian Ambassador Rudrendra Tandon to stay in Kabul when India was about to close its embassy there on August 15 of last year following the Taliban takeover.

Hamid Karzai reportedly pleaded with Indian Ambassador Rudrendra Tandon to stay in Kabul when India was about to close its embassy there on August 15 of last year following the Taliban takeover. According to TOLO news, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, today said on Twitter that the recently "re-opened" Indian embassy in Kabul is anticipated to expand activities. "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan appreciates this step of India, which wants to increase the level of diplomatic representation of its embassy in Kabul," said Abdul Qahar Balkhi in a Tweet. The "technical team," which has been stationed there since June and focuses on commercial and trade opportunities as well as the provision of food and medical supplies, will expand the Embassy's operations. India and the Afghan people have shared historical and cultural ties. Another Indian team recently went to Kabul to supervise the distribution of our humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and met with Taliban leaders. An evaluation of the security situation was also done during the visit. Also Read: In pics: Nations display military might at International Army Games hosted by Russia Local workers provided consular services in the Indian Embassy in Kabul, according to local media sources, and it was never shuttered. On August 15 of last year, the Taliban invaded Kabul, forcing the US-backed government to resign. The group revealed the make-up of Afghanistan's new interim government later in September. The ongoing economic, humanitarian, and security catastrophe caused by the Taliban takeover is wreaking havoc on the nation. The Afghan people have received many forms of support from the international community, including aid from governments and humanitarian organisations. (with inputs from agencies)

Indian embassy newly 're-opened' in Kabul, Karzai urged ambassador not to leave

<p>Three sniffer dogs along with 150 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel&nbsp;deployed for security at the Indian embassy in Afghanistan, have landed at the Hindon IAF base in Ghaziabad.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Three sniffer dogs Maya, Ruby &amp; Bobby were deployed for security at Indian Embassy in Afghanistan's Kabul, along with 150 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel. The 3 dogs, along with a contingent of 99 commandos of ITBP, landed at the Hindon IAF base in Ghaziabad yesterday <a href="https://t.co/YPAaO3Ejrh">pic.twitter.com/YPAaO3Ejrh</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1427896772987211789?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>An&nbsp;Indian Air Force plane evacuated over 170 people from Kabul on Tuesday, including&nbsp;India's ambassador to Afghanistan, a government official said, as diplomats and civilians scrambled to get out of the country after the Taliban seized the capital.</p>

<p>The flight landed in the western&nbsp;Indian city of Jamnagar for refuelling on the way to Delhi.</p>

<p>Indian embassy officials were escorted by the Taliban to Kabul&nbsp;airport, where a military aircraft was on standby to evacuate them after New Delhi decided to shut its mission.</p>

<p>The embassy's decision to ask the Taliban to shepherd the Indians out was made when the fighters closed access to the once heavily fortified neighbourhood after capturing Kabul the previous day.</p>

<p>Thousands of people desperate to flee Afghanistan thronged Kabul's airport on Monday, after the Taliban fighters streamed into the capital unopposed, prompting the United States to pause evacuations.</p>

<p>India, which has invested millions of dollars in development projects across Afghanistan, once operated four consulates in the country, besides the embassy in Kabul.</p>

<p>The last operating consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif was shut down a week ago, days before Taliban insurgents took control of the northern city, where the Afghan army quickly surrendered.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Three sniffer dogs along with 150 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel deployed for security at the Indian embassy in Afghanistan, have landed at the Hindon IAF base in Ghaziabad.

Three sniffer dogs along with 150 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel deployed for security at the Indian embassy in Afghanistan, have landed at the Hindon IAF base in Ghaziabad. Three sniffer dogs Maya, Ruby & Bobby were deployed for security at Indian Embassy in Afghanistan's Kabul, along with 150 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel. The 3 dogs, along with a contingent of 99 commandos of ITBP, landed at the Hindon IAF base in Ghaziabad yesterday pic.twitter.com/YPAaO3Ejrh — ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2021 × An Indian Air Force plane evacuated over 170 people from Kabul on Tuesday, including India's ambassador to Afghanistan, a government official said, as diplomats and civilians scrambled to get out of the country after the Taliban seized the capital. The flight landed in the western Indian city of Jamnagar for refuelling on the way to Delhi. Indian embassy officials were escorted by the Taliban to Kabul airport, where a military aircraft was on standby to evacuate them after New Delhi decided to shut its mission. The embassy's decision to ask the Taliban to shepherd the Indians out was made when the fighters closed access to the once heavily fortified neighbourhood after capturing Kabul the previous day. Thousands of people desperate to flee Afghanistan thronged Kabul's airport on Monday, after the Taliban fighters streamed into the capital unopposed, prompting the United States to pause evacuations. India, which has invested millions of dollars in development projects across Afghanistan, once operated four consulates in the country, besides the embassy in Kabul. The last operating consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif was shut down a week ago, days before Taliban insurgents took control of the northern city, where the Afghan army quickly surrendered. (With inputs from agencies)

India evacuates three sniffer dogs, 150 ITBP personnel from embassy in Kabul

<p>A powerful bomb hidden in a sewage tanker exploded in the morning rush hour in the centre of the Afghan capital on Wednesday, police said, killing at least 80 people, wounding hundreds and damaging embassy buildings.</p>

<p>The victims appeared mainly to have been Afghan civilians.</p>

<p>The bomb, one of the deadliest in Kabul and coming at the start of the holy month of Ramadan, exploded close to the fortified entrance to the German embassy, wounding some staff, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One Afghan security guard was killed and others were likely among the dead, Gabriel said. A spokeswoman for the German foreign ministry said the bomber&#39;s target was unknown.</p>

<p>However, the area is home to other embassies and government offices so the precise target of the attack was not immediately clear. A&nbsp;French minister said French and German embassies were damaged in the blast.</p>

<p>&quot;Such attacks do not change our resolve in continuing to support the Afghan government in the stabilization of the country,&quot; Gabriel said.</p>

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<p>A big explosion went off in the Afghan capital, Kabul caused by a car bomb near the German embassy killing several and wounding many others officials said. (Reuters)</p>
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The explosion took place just 50 metres away from the Indian embassy, media reports said. Indian staff at the embassy are safe, reports said. The blast shattered all windows of the Indian embassy.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">By God&#39;s grace, Indian Embassy staff are safe in the massive <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kabul?src=hash">#Kabul</a> blast.</p>
&mdash; Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj/status/869775310706716672">May 31, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We strongly condemn the terrorist blast in Kabul. Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased &amp; prayers with the injured.</p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/869799248287588353">May 31, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;It was a car bomb near the German embassy, but there are several other important compounds and offices near there too. It is hard to say what the exact target is,&quot; Basir Mujahid a spokesman for Kabul police&nbsp;said.</p>

<p>Witnesses said dozens of cars were blocking roads and some wounded people could be seen.&nbsp;There was no immediate claim of responsibility.</p>

<p>The blast sent clouds of black smoke spiralling over the centre of the city in an area near the presidential palace and foreign embassies.</p>

<p>Houses hundreds of metres away from the blast were damaged with windows and doors blown off their hinges.</p>

<p>The Indian embassy in Kabul was attacked in 2008 by a&nbsp;suicide bomber.&nbsp;The bombing killed 58 people&nbsp;and wounded 141.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for several recent bombings in the Afghan capital, including a powerful blast targeting an armoured NATO convoy that killed at least eight people and wounded 28 on May 3.</p>

<p>The explosion will add pressure to the fragile government of President Ashraf Ghani, which has faced mounting discontent over its inability to control the insurgency and provide security for Afghan citizens.</p>

<p>The Taliban have been stepping up their push to defeat the US-backed government. Since most international troops withdrew at the end of 2014, the Taliban have gained ground and now control or contest about 40 per cent of the country, according to US&nbsp;estimates. Ashraf Ghani&#39;s government, however,&nbsp;holds all provincial centres.</p>

<p>US&nbsp;President Donald Trump is due to decide soon on a recommendation to send 3,000 to 5,000 more troops to bolster the small NATO training force and US&nbsp;counter-terrorism mission now totalling just over 10,000.</p>

<p>The commander of US&nbsp;forces in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, told a congressional hearing this year that he needed several thousand more troops to help Afghan forces break a &quot;stalemate&quot; with the Taliban.</p>

<p><strong>(WION with Agency inputs)&nbsp;</strong></p>


The explosion took place just 50 metres away from the Indian embassy

A powerful bomb hidden in a sewage tanker exploded in the morning rush hour in the centre of the Afghan capital on Wednesday, police said, killing at least 80 people, wounding hundreds and damaging embassy buildings. The victims appeared mainly to have been Afghan civilians. The bomb, one of the deadliest in Kabul and coming at the start of the holy month of Ramadan, exploded close to the fortified entrance to the German embassy, wounding some staff, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said. One Afghan security guard was killed and others were likely among the dead, Gabriel said. A spokeswoman for the German foreign ministry said the bomber's target was unknown. However, the area is home to other embassies and government offices so the precise target of the attack was not immediately clear. A French minister said French and German embassies were damaged in the blast. "Such attacks do not change our resolve in continuing to support the Afghan government in the stabilization of the country," Gabriel said. A big explosion went off in the Afghan capital, Kabul caused by a car bomb near the German embassy killing several and wounding many others officials said. (Reuters) × The explosion took place just 50 metres away from the Indian embassy, media reports said. Indian staff at the embassy are safe, reports said. The blast shattered all windows of the Indian embassy. By God's grace, Indian Embassy staff are safe in the massive #Kabul blast. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 31, 2017 × We strongly condemn the terrorist blast in Kabul. Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased & prayers with the injured. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 31, 2017 × "It was a car bomb near the German embassy, but there are several other important compounds and offices near there too. It is hard to say what the exact target is," Basir Mujahid a spokesman for Kabul police said. Witnesses said dozens of cars were blocking roads and some wounded people could be seen. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The blast sent clouds of black smoke spiralling over the centre of the city in an area near the presidential palace and foreign embassies. Houses hundreds of metres away from the blast were damaged with windows and doors blown off their hinges. The Indian embassy in Kabul was attacked in 2008 by a suicide bomber. The bombing killed 58 people and wounded 141. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for several recent bombings in the Afghan capital, including a powerful blast targeting an armoured NATO convoy that killed at least eight people and wounded 28 on May 3. The explosion will add pressure to the fragile government of President Ashraf Ghani, which has faced mounting discontent over its inability to control the insurgency and provide security for Afghan citizens. The Taliban have been stepping up their push to defeat the US-backed government. Since most international troops withdrew at the end of 2014, the Taliban have gained ground and now control or contest about 40 per cent of the country, according to US estimates. Ashraf Ghani's government, however, holds all provincial centres. US President Donald Trump is due to decide soon on a recommendation to send 3,000 to 5,000 more troops to bolster the small NATO training force and US counter-terrorism mission now totalling just over 10,000. The commander of US forces in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, told a congressional hearing this year that he needed several thousand more troops to help Afghan forces break a "stalemate" with the Taliban. (WION with Agency inputs)

At least 80 killed, hundreds wounded in truck bomb explosion in Kabul's embassy area