Operation Devi Shakti

{{Infobox military operation

|name = Operation Devi Shakti

|partof = 2021 evacuation of Afghanistan and the 2021 Taliban offensive and the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

|subtitle =

|image =

|image_upright =

|alt =

|caption =

|scope = Humanitarian relief

|type = Emergency evacuation

|location = Afghanistan

|location2 =

|coordinates = {{coord|34|33|57|N|069|12|47|E|region:AF|display=inline,title}}

|coordinates2 =

|map_type =Afghanistan #South Asia#West Asia#Asia

|map_size =

|map_caption = Location of Kabul airport in Afghanistan

|map_label =

|map_label2 =

|planned =

|planned_by =Ministry of External Affairs and Indian Armed Forces

|commanded_by =

|objective = Evacuation of Indian nationals, embassy staff and eligible Afghans

|date = {{start date|2021|08|16|df=y}} – {{end date|2021|08|21|df=y}}

|executed_by = {{flag|India}}

|outcome = 800 evacuated

|casualties =

|fatalities =

|injuries =

}}

Operation Devi Shakti ({{Translation|Operation Goddess Shakti}}) was an operation of the Indian Armed Forces to evacuate Indian citizens and foreign nationals from Afghanistan after the collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the fall of Kabul, the capital city, to the Taliban.{{cite web |title=India's evacuation mission from Afghanistan named 'Operation Devi Shakti' |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/india-s-evacuation-mission-from-afghanistan-named-operation-devi-shakti-operation-devi-shakti-1.5939642 |website=Mathrubhumi |access-date=24 August 2021 |language=en}}

Background

File:Taliban fighters during 2021 offensive.png militants during the 2021 offensive]]

The Taliban and allied militant groups began a widespread offensive on 1 May 2021, concurrent with the withdrawal of most U.S. troops from Afghanistan.{{Cite news |last1=Lamothe |first1=Dan |last2=Hudson |first2=John |last3=Harris |first3=Shane |last4=Gearan |first4=Anne |date=10 August 2021 |title=U.S. officials warn collapse of Afghan capital could come sooner than expected |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2021/08/10/afghanistan-intelligence-assessment/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811030221/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2021/08/10/afghanistan-intelligence-assessment/ |archive-date=11 August 2021}} See more at [https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/34643/Evacuation+of+Indians+and+Afghans+under+Operation+Devi+Shakti+and+shipment+of+humanitarian+assistance+for+the+people+of+Afghanistan Ministry of External Affairs official website]

Kabul airlift

India evacuated over 800 people amid a deteriorating security situation in Kabul.{{cite web |title="Op Devi Shakti": Over 800 Evacuated By India From Afghanistan So Far |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indias-evacuation-mission-from-afghanistan-named-operation-devi-shakti-2517474 |website=NDTV.com |access-date=24 August 2021}}

On 16 August, 40 Indians were airlifted from Kabul to Delhi.
168 people, including 107 Indians and 23 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus, were flown from Kabul to Hindan Air Force Station near Delhi in a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
87 Indians and two Nepalese nationals were brought back in a special Air India flight from Dushanbe, a day after they were evacuated to the Tajikistan capital in an IAF C-130J.{{cite web |title=Evacuation from Afghanistan: India brings back 392 in three different flights |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/146-indian-evacuees-from-kabul-being-repatriated-to-india-via-doha-embassy-11629644986224.html |website=mint |language=en |date=22 August 2021}}
On 21 August, 78 people, including 25 Indians and a number of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus, were taken to India from Dushanbe, a day after they were evacuated from Kabul to the Tajik city.{{cite news|last=Goyal|first=Divya |date=21 August 2021 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/taliban-stops-72-afghan-sikhs-and-hindus-from-boarding-iaf-plane-7464332/|title=Taliban stop 72 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus from boarding IAF plane|work=The Indian Express|access-date=21 August 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Saha |first1=Poulomi |title=Taliban want resumption of flights between India and Afghanistan, write to DGCA {{!}} Exclusive |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/taliban-afghanistan-india-flights-kabul-1858584-2021-09-29 |website=India Today |access-date=29 September 2021 |language=en}}