A 36-hour ordeal and a lucky escape, Air India country manager in Kabul shares rescue story

New Delhi: "Pack up in five minutes for the airport. We will escort you all," said a Talibani mercenary clad in long kurta to a group of Indian embassy officials in Kabul.

This was more than enough time for all those waiting with bated breath for their rescue on August 16. With no luggage or bare minimum belongings the officials took sigh of relief with the hopes of their ordeal coming to an end. In 24 cars (Land Cruiser) the officials set out for the airport escorted by a single Talibani vehicle.

Sudipto Mandal, Air India's manager posted in Kabul, shares his nearly 36 hours of harrowing experience with UNI over a phone call. He terms his escape as lucky as had it not been for an Indian embassy car that he spotted by chance at the airport, Mandal said he could not imagine what would have happened.

After seeing off the last flight from Kabul on August 15 amid growing chaos, Mandal returned to the airport building and called up his driver (a local) to pick him. But the driver expressed his inability to come citing blocked roads and the tense atmosphere that gripped the city. This left Mandal stunned as uncertainty clouded his mind.

By sheer luck he found an Indian embassy car at the airport which had come to pick an official. He immediately hopped inside and thanked his stars. Along with the embassy official who was on duty he came to the Embassy where another surprise was waiting for him. Several Talibanis in their usual long kurta were sitting at the embassy. By now Mandal realized it would not be an easy escape.

“We will not harm you. Why are you going back? Stay on. We will protect you,” said a Talibani mercenary much to Mandal’s surprise.

It was a bit of relief for him but inside the panic deepened.

As the night progresses so did his anxiety. The next day on August 16, he and other embassy officials were told that they would be escorted to the airport. But hours and hours passed without any update from the Talibanis. Finally, around mid-night, the Talibanis told Mandal and other embassy officials to pack their bags in five minutes as they are heading to the airport.

Everybody was waiting for this precise moment and rushed to the cars. In 24 cars the officials were accompanied by a single Talibani vehicle. The 7-8 kilometre journey from the Embassy to the airport seemed never ending. It took almost four hours to reach the defence area of the airport as the cars were stopped several times for checking by the Talibanis.

Mandal had no food, water or fresh clothes to change into, but he had no grievance. He had reached the defence area manned by American and Turkish security people and a C-17 Indian Air Force plane was waiting to take everyone back to the Motherland.

Mandal is, however, unperturbed by the traumatic experience and ready to go back to Kabul as and when civilian flights are allowed and Air India resumes operations. After all, he has been stationed in Kabul since 2019. He continues to get calls from passengers – both Indians and Afghanis -- in Kabul enquiring 'when would the flight start?' (UNI)