New Delhi: As the security situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate, the Indian Air Force has kept large and medium transport aircraft on standby for deployment at short notice.
South Block has been in close touch with Indian diplomats and the government in Baghdad, working out contingency plans to evacuate scores of citizens stranded in fighting zones.
“Depending on the number of people to be evacuated, we can send in either the large C17 transporters or the medium lift C130 J aircraft. We have kept the planes on standby and are ready to fly out,” a senior officer said.
The IAF is, however, yet to receive a formal request to carry out an evacuation mission.
New Delhi has issued an advisory to citizens in Iraq to leave at the earliest, using commercial means of transport. Baghdad airport remains open, and the rebel forces are still some distance away from the Iraqi capital. The IAF has a commendable record of conducting humanitarian and evacuation missions.
The Ministry of External Affairs is at the moment more worried about the 86 Indians — mostly nurses — stranded in the cities of Tikrit and Mosul that have already fallen into rebel hands. Evacuation from these cities is currently not feasible, as roads are believed to be unsafe.
18/06/14 Manu Pubby/Indian Express
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South Block has been in close touch with Indian diplomats and the government in Baghdad, working out contingency plans to evacuate scores of citizens stranded in fighting zones.
“Depending on the number of people to be evacuated, we can send in either the large C17 transporters or the medium lift C130 J aircraft. We have kept the planes on standby and are ready to fly out,” a senior officer said.
The IAF is, however, yet to receive a formal request to carry out an evacuation mission.
New Delhi has issued an advisory to citizens in Iraq to leave at the earliest, using commercial means of transport. Baghdad airport remains open, and the rebel forces are still some distance away from the Iraqi capital. The IAF has a commendable record of conducting humanitarian and evacuation missions.
The Ministry of External Affairs is at the moment more worried about the 86 Indians — mostly nurses — stranded in the cities of Tikrit and Mosul that have already fallen into rebel hands. Evacuation from these cities is currently not feasible, as roads are believed to be unsafe.
18/06/14 Manu Pubby/Indian Express
