New Delhi: Even as diplomats and staffers of Indian Embassy in Kabul returned here, the government said on Tuesday it is committed to the safe return of all Indians from Afghanistan, and is also extending visa services to Afghan nationals.

The Ministry of External Affairs said it has already received requests from Afghan Sikh and Hindu community leaders and is in touch with them.

It said the main challenge for travel to and from Afghanistan is the operational status of Kabul airport, where commercial operations were suspended on Monday.

“This has been discussed at high levels with our partners, including by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken,” an MEA statement said.

The Government of India is committed to the safe return of all Indian nationals and will institute flight arrangements once Kabul airport is opened for commercial operations, it said.

Referring to the return to India of Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Rudrendra Tandon earlier in the day, the statement said: “In view of the prevailing situation in Kabul, it was decided that our Embassy personnel would be immediately moved to India. This movement has been completed in two phases and the Ambassador and all other India-based personnel have reached New Delhi this afternoon.”

India has been issuing periodic travel and security advisories for all Indian nationals in Afghanistan, given the deteriorating security situation there, it said.

“Those already in Afghanistan were urged to return immediately while others were advised not to travel there. Nevertheless, we understand that a number of Indians are stranded in that country, some of whom are employed by third country organisations.

“Our immediate priority is to obtain accurate information about all Indian nationals currently in Afghanistan. They and /or their employers are requested to urgently share the relevant details with MEA’s Special Afghanistan Cell: Phone: +91-11-49016783, +91-11-49016784, +91-11-49016785 WhatsApp: +91 80106 11290 Email: [email protected]

“As regards Afghan nationals, our visa services will continue through an e-Emergency visa facility, which has been extended to Afghan nationals. This can be accessed through our e-visa portal at https:ndianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/Registration. We have already received requests from Afghan Sikh and Hindu community leaders, and are in touch with them,” the statement said.

On Sunday, the Taliban took over Kabul, while deposed president Ashraf Ghani left Afghanistan, plunging the country into chaos. (UNI)

Srinagar: Two Kashmiri professors are still stranded in strife torn Kabul and the Jammu and Kashmir Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha said on Tuesday that he has taken up the issue of their safe return with the External Affairs Ministry.

“Spoke to MoS Foreign Affairs, Shri V Muraleedharan Ji for immediate evacuation of professors from Kulgam teaching at Bakhtar University in Kabul. He has assured the government is committed to bring back every citizen safely as soon as possible,” Sinha said on his official Twitter handle.

Officials said the Lt. Governor has assured the families of professor Asif Ahmed and professor Adil Rasool belonging to south Kashmir Kulgam district that the two teachers are safe and they will soon return to India.

Afghan capital, Kabul, was taken over by Taliban insurgents as their advance into the city met no resistance from government forces. Former Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani has fled the country without any formal exchange of power.

Reports said the air strip at Kabul airport is, however, controlled by the US forces who are supervising evacuation of diplomatic staff of some countries. (IANS)

Those responsible shall be brought to justice: LG

Srinagar: A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker was on Tuesday killed by suspected militants in South Kashmir district of Kulgam.

Official sources said that suspected militants fired at a BJP worker, identified as Javaid Ahmad Dar, outside his residence at Brazloo in Kulgam. “Dar was critically injured in the attack,” they said, adding the wounded was rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The sources further said the gunmen managed to escape from the spot during the chaos created due to the firing. “Security forces have been rushed to the area and a search operation has been launched to nab the attackers,” they added.

This is the second incident in over a week when BJP workers were targeted in south Kashmir. A BJP sarpanch and his Panch wife from Redwani Kulgam were shot dead by militants in south Kashmir district of Anantnag on August 9.

Condemning the killing, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said he was “deeply anguished to hear about attack on political leader Shri Javaid Ahmad Dar at Brazloo, Kulgam.”

“I strongly condemn this cowardly attack. My deepest condolences to bereaved family in this time of grief,” he said, adding, “(militants) will never succeed in their nefarious designs, and those responsible for such heinous acts shall be brought to justice.”(UNI)

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar: At least 23 BJP workers were killed in different militant attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in the last two years, figures revealed on Tuesday.

As per the details, 23 BJP workers including some leaders were killed by militants in separate attacks in J&K in the past two years.

Official sources said that in the last one year, seven BJP workers were killed in Kulgam district alone.

Pertinently, in the last ten days, four persons including a minor son of a BJP leader, were killed in three separate attacks on BJP workers/ leaders. The latest killing took place on August 17, when militants killed BJP’s constituency in-charge Javaid Ahmed Dar son of Mohammed Abdullah Dar was shot dead in Brazloo, Kulgam.

On August 12, a two-year-old child was killed while six others were injured after a grenade was lobbed towards the house of BJP Mandal president Jasbir Singh in Rajouri town.

On August 9, BJP Kishan Morcha District President Kulgam Gh Rasool and his wife Jawhara Banoo who was also a panch and affiliated with BJP belonging to Redwani Kulgam were killed by militants in Lal Chowk Anantnag.

On June 02, BJP leader and president MC Tral Rakesh Pandita was killed by militants in Tral.  Nine BJP leaders, workers were killed in four months across Kashmir, officials said.

On October 30 last year, three BJP workers namely Fida Hussain, who was  BJP’s Yuva Morcha General Secretary, BJP worker Umar Ramzan, both residents of Y K Pora, Qazigund and Umar Rashid, a resident of Sopat in Devsar area of Kulgam, were killed.

On September 23 last year, Block Development Council (BDC) chairman Khag affiliated with BJP Party namely Bupinder Singh of Budgam was killed by militants at his ancestral village Dalwach, Budgam.

Last year, on August 09, BJP’s OBC District President Abdul Hamid Najar was killed when he was on a morning walk in Ompora, Budgam. On August 06, BJP Sarpanch Sajad Ahmad Khanday was shot dead by militants near his residence at Vessu, Qazigund.

Last year on 04 August, a BJP Sarpanch was shot at and injured during a militant attack in Akhran area of Kulgam, however, he survived.

Last year on July 08, three members of a family including BJP State executive Committee member Sheikh Waseem Bari, his father Bashir Ahmad and brother Sheikh Umar who were also office bearers were killed by militants at their residence in Bandipora.

Meanwhile, BJP on Tuesday said that frequent killing of BJP workers is a matter of grave concern.

BJP spokesman Altaf Thakur said that it is a matter of serious concern and it is high time for police to book culprits and provide safe and secure accommodation to BJP workers and activists in South Kashmir. “Measures need to be taken to prevent attacks on BJP leaders,” he said. (KNO)

We respect religious sentiments, practices of all: IGP

Srinagar: Dozens of mourners were on Tuesday detained when they attempted to take out a procession on the seventh day of Islamic month of Muharram in Srinagar, where a number of roads were closed since early this morning.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Range, K Vijay Kumar in a tweet said, “We #respect the religious #sentiments and practices of all but at the same time it is also our joint #responsibility to defeat the ill designs of vested interest who try to disturb #peaceful atmosphere”.

Muharram processions in Srinagar, including civil lines, are banned since 90s for security reasons. However, Muharram processions are being taken out in areas where Shia Sect of Muslims are residing, including central Kashmir district of Badgam. Thousands of mourners are participating in these processions for the past about a week.

Dozens of mourners in several groups, mostly wearing black cloths, appeared at Batmaloo and other places in the city raising religious slogans, including “Labaik ya Hussain” . However, police personnel deployed in strength since this morning immediately swung into action and resorted to lathicharge. Dozens of mourners were later bundled into waiting police vehicles and taken to concern police station. Similar scenes were also witnessed at other places in the city.

Security forces have closed several roads, including at Barbarshah, Gaw Kadal, Exchange road leading to UNI office, Fateh Kadal, Baba demb.

All roads leading to Imambara at Dalgate have also been closed. Nobody was being allowed to enter the area.

Situation elsewhere in the city, including historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city, Budshah Chowk and other business hubs was normal and traffic was also plying normally.

The administration had announced to allow Muharram processions in the civil lines and other parts of Srinagar this time. However, the Shia organizations and leaders questioned the timing of allowing Muharram procession at time when no congregational prayers are being allowed in historic Jamia Masjid, Assar-e-Sharief Hazratbal, which houses the Holy Relic of Prophet Muhammad and other worship places in the valley.

Later, the Union Administration issued a fresh order said that maximum number of people permitted to attend any indoor or outdoor gathering shall be restricted to 25 persons only. (UNI)