EAM Jaishankar recalls his conversation with PM Modi during Taliban taking over and regime change in Afghanistan

New Delhi: In an event that took place in New York, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke about his conversation with PM Narendra Modi.

Jaishankar spoke about how PM Modi kept himself in the loop with the developments which were happening when India was evacuating its citizens from Afghanistan after the Taliban took over the regime in Afghanistan in 2021.

"It was past midnight, and our consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan, was under attack. And we were using phones, trying to figure out what happened,” the EAM said.

#WATCH | NY, US: Recounting India's evacuation effort from Afghanistan, EAM Jaishankar says, "It was past midnight... PM called me, his first question was - "Jaage ho?"... I apprised him that help is on its way. He told me to call him when it's done... that's a singular quality." pic.twitter.com/AxL7Ddp6d6

— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2022

He added “We were juggling for phones and keeping the courage up at the other end. My phone rang. Normally, when the Prime Minister calls there is no caller ID. It sort of took me by surprise.”

Furthermore, Jaishankar shared “His first question was- Jaage ho?...Achha TV dekh rahe ho…to kya ho raha hai waha.”

Jaishankar revealed that PM asked him all these questions over call so as to enquire about the situation and how the evacuation process was happening and he informed the PM that help was on its way.

I told him that it might take a couple of more hours and that I would call up at his office. To this, he responded- ‘Mujhe phone kar dena,’ Jaishankar said.

He praised the Prime Minister saying “Good times or bad times, he’s there.”

Jaishankar further revealed that PM Modi was co-ordinating during the whole evacuation process, and he had to take difficult decisions as Covid was at its peak and India was grappling with the grim situation at that time.

According to reports, India successfully brought back 800 people including some Afghans after the Taliban took over the country. When the US and other countries withdrew their armed forces from Afghanistan, India carried out the evacuation process in full swing.

The mission was named operation Devi Shakti.