While countries in the world have abandoned Afghan nationals after the Taliban’s invasion, India has been racing against time to evacuate the affected, irrespective of their religion. India started the mission to rescue the Afghan nationals in a war-torn nation, with minimal protection from the Talibani terror. However, this is not India’s maiden experience in rescuing people from conflict zones.
Even in the past rescue operations, India had left no stone unturned to protect and redeem its people.
Read more: Understanding the temporary e-visa granted by India to Afghans fleeing Afghanistan
Operation Sukoon, 2006
As the military conflict broke out between Israel and Lebanon in July 2006, the Government of India came to the rescue and, with the help of the Indian Armed Forces, evacuated and rescued its citizens from the conflicted zone. Along with 2000 strangled Indian nationals in Lebanon, India also saved citizens from Nepal and Sri Lanka.
The Indian navy initiated “Operation Sukoon” by deploying four Indian Naval Vessels – INS Mumbai, INS Betwa, INS Brahmputra and INS Shakti carrying around 115 tons of aid from both the Indian and Cyprus governments. The support compromised of medical supplies, clothing and blankets, antiseptics, food, baby milk powder and canned goods. Overall, around 2,280 individuals were successfully evacuated, comprising 1,800 stranded Indian nationals, 379 Sri Lankans, 69 Nepalese and 5 Lebanese. After the retreat, the task force remained on station in international waters off Lebanon, monitoring the conflict, and ensuring the safety of remaining Indian nationals in Lebanon. The vessels left for their home ports on 10 August 2006.
Operation Safe Homecoming, 2011
Operation Safe Homecoming was launched by the Indian government on February 26, 2011, to rescue its citizens from the Libyan Civil War. More than 15000 Indian nationals were saved and taken out of Libya. The operation ended on March 11. Post the rescue mission, the Indian government said, “About 15,400 Indians, out of the initial presence of 18,000 in strife-torn Libya, are back in the country as ‘Operation Safe Homecoming’ rapidly draws towards a close tonight.”
Special Air India flights along with the Indian Navy ship INS Jalashwa ferried back the Indian professionals and workers desirous of leaving Libya from Tripoli and Sebha.
Workers rescued from Iraq in 2014
As the civil war between the IS forces and the Iraqi army intensified in 2014, 46 Indian nurses were held in captivity in a hospital in Tikrit by the Islamic State OF Iraq and Syria militants in Iraq. These nurses were rescued by India in June 2014. A special Air India plane was arranged from Delhi for Erbil to fly the nurses home.
Operation Raahat, 2015
In March 2015, the Indian Armed Forces launched ‘Operation Raahat’ to evacuate 4,640 Indian citizens and 960 foreign nationals of 41 countries from Yemen. As the Royal Saudi Air Force led a coalition of Arab states to attack the Shia Houthi rebels, the Indian government negotiated a window to get trapped nationals back home. The evacuation by sea began on April 1, 2015, from the port of Aden, while the air evacuation by the Indian Air Force and Air India commenced on April 3, 2015.
Rescue mission in Brussels, 2016
Right after three coordinated suicide bombings in Belgium on March 22, 2016, including two at Brussels Airport in Zaventem, and one at Maalbeek metro station in central Brussels, a Jet Airways flight evacuated 242 Indians, including 28 Jet Airways crew members who were stranded in Brussels. 32 civilians and 3 perpetrators were killed, and more than 300 people were injured in the multiple blasts.