Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 28, 2026

Operation Devi Shakti

Operation Devi 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.

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Jul 28, 2026
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Operation Devi Shakti
Part of 2021 evacuation of Afghanistan and the 2021 Taliban offensive and the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Operational scopeHumanitarian relief
Location
34°33′57″N 069°12′47″E / 34.56583°N 69.21306°E / 34.56583; 69.21306
Planned byMinistry of External Affairs and Indian Armed Forces
ObjectiveEvacuation of Indian nationals, embassy staff and eligible Afghans
Date16 August 2021 (2021-08-16) – 21 August 2021 (2021-08-21)1
Executed by India
Outcome800 evacuated
Location of Kabul airport in Afghanistan
Show map of Afghanistan
Operation Devi Shakti (South Asia)
Show map of South Asia
Operation Devi Shakti (West and Central Asia)
Show map of West and Central Asia
Operation Devi Shakti (Asia)
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Operation Devi Shakti (transl. 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.2

Background

Taliban militants during the 2021 offensive source ↗

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.3 See more at Ministry of External Affairs official website

Kabul airlift

India evacuated over 800 people amid a deteriorating security situation in Kabul.4

  • On 16 August, 40 Indians were airlifted from Kabul to Delhi.4
  • 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).5
  • 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.5
  • 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.461
See also

See also

References

References

  1. Saha, Poulomi. "Taliban want resumption of flights between India and Afghanistan, write to DGCA | Exclusive". India Today. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  2. "India's evacuation mission from Afghanistan named 'Operation Devi Shakti'". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  3. Lamothe, Dan; Hudson, John; Harris, Shane; Gearan, Anne (10 August 2021). "U.S. officials warn collapse of Afghan capital could come sooner than expected". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  4. ""Op Devi Shakti": Over 800 Evacuated By India From Afghanistan So Far". NDTV.com. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  5. "Evacuation from Afghanistan: India brings back 392 in three different flights". mint. 22 August 2021.
  6. Goyal, Divya (21 August 2021). "Taliban stop 72 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus from boarding IAF plane". The Indian Express. Retrieved 21 August 2021.