New Delhi: As the Centre's efforts to evacuate Indian citizens from the Afghan capital is underway, an Air Force C-130J transport aircraft took off from Kabul this morning with 85 people on board, news agency ANI reported.
As per ANI, the plane landed in Tajikistan for refueling.
"An Indian Air Force C-130J transport aircraft took off from Kabul with over 85 Indians. The aircraft landed in Tajikistan for refuelling. Indian government officials are helping in evacuation of Indian citizens on the ground in Kabul," the news agency said citing sources.
The government has been putting in coordinated efforts to bring back citizens safely.
Late last night sources also said another IAF plane - a C-17 transport - is on standby to fly to Kabul to bring home more Indian citizens.
That aircraft is expected to take off as soon as enough Indian nationals are able to move to the city's airport - access to which has been compromised by Taliban check posts.
The Indian government is working closely with its United States counterpart, whose forces control interior sections of the Kabul airport, to facilitate movement of IAF transport aircraft, sources said.
Two IAF C-17s flew into Kabul on August 15 to evacuate Indian embassy personnel, including Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel tasked with guarding them.
The first aircraft took off under very challenging circumstances given the chaos at Kabul airport where thousands of desperate Afghans had arrived in the hope of flying out of the country.
The Indian Air Force has already evacuated around 180 Indian passengers. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) was briefed in detail on the current and evolving security and political situation in Afghanistan.