New Delhi:India has kept two C-130J military transport aircraft ready to fly in Jeddah as part of the government’s plan to safely evacuate Indian nationals stranded in violence-hit Sudan. An Indian Navy ship has reached an important port in the region. Giving details, the Ministry of External Affairs said that contingency plans have been kept ready for the safe evacuation of Indians. But, any activity on the ground would depend on the security situation.
The ministry said the security situation in Sudan’s capital Khartoum remained volatile with reports of heavy clashes from various places.
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The Ministry of External Affairs said that India is making every effort to ensure the safety of Indians stranded in Sudan. “We are closely following the complex and evolving security situation in Sudan,” the ministry said.
“We are coordinating closely with various partners for the safe evacuation of Indians stranded in Sudan and seeking to leave,” it said.
The Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Sudan are in regular touch with the Sudanese authorities, including the United Nations, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and the United States, among others.
It said, “As part of our preparedness, the Government of India is working on several options to accomplish this mission more quickly.”
“Two C-130J (aircraft) of the Indian Air Force are currently kept ready to take off in Jeddah and INS Sumedha has reached Port Sudan,” the ministry said.
“Contingency plans are ready, but any activity on the ground will depend on the security situation, which remains volatile due to heavy fighting at various locations in Khartoum,” the foreign ministry said.
It said Sudanese airspace is closed to all foreign aircraft and there is a risk to ground movement.