New Delhi: In the past decade, India has focused extensively and invested significant resources in rescuing its stranded citizens from abroad, especially those in conflict zones.
These efforts have not only created a sense of assurance and confidence among its citizens that they will not be left behind in case of emergencies, but has also instilled a sense of obligation in foreign governments to ensure that Indian citizens are treated with the same care and concern as their own citizens.
Officials sources, while speaking to The Sunday Guardian said that the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government has employed a range of diplomatic and, at times, military measures to address the challenges of securing its people in hostile environments and regions marked by international tensions.
One of the most significant early cases of such rescue of an individual came in 2018.
Hamid Ansari, a Mumbai-based Indian national, was imprisoned in Pakistan on charges of espionage after he inadvertently crossed the border. His detention had become a prolonged diplomatic issue between India and Pakistan with his distraught mother losing all hopes of seeing her son back.
While Ansari had crossed into Pakistan in 2012, it was only in December 2018, due to sustained back channel diplomatic efforts undertaken by the Modi government that he was successfully brought back to India.
In June 2014, the Indian government carried out one of its earliest high-profile rescue operations when 46 Indian nurses were abducted by ISIS terrorists in Tikrit, Iraq. The nurses were working in a hospital when ISIS seized the city. After their 23 days in captivity, the Indian government successfully brought them back home. The operation marked the beginning of a series of successful rescue operations carried out by India in subsequent years. While the details of what and how this was done never came out, sources said that all relevant stakeholders, even those who were not a part of the government machinery, were involved in this operation.
Similarly, in March 2016, Father Tom Uzhunnalil, an Indian priest, was kidnapped by ISIS terrorists in Yemen. Along with Sister Sally, who was also abducted, Father Tom was held hostage for several months. Given ISIS’ tenacity in killing hostages in a brutal and publicized manner, the Indian government acted swiftly. As per official sources, a team of diplomats and intelligence officials were sent to negotiate their release. After intense diplomatic efforts, both Father Tom and Sister Sally were freed later that year, showcasing India’s commitment to protecting its citizens even in the most dangerous regions.
In June 2016, Judith D’Souza, an Indian national working with an NGO, was kidnapped in Afghanistan. The Indian government immediately took action, sending a diplomatic team to negotiate her release. After weeks of tense negotiations, Judith was freed on 20 July, highlighting India’s proactive approach in ensuring the safety of its citizens, even in high-risk environments.
One of PM Modi’s biggest challenges came in September 2016 when Indian soldier Chandu Babulal Chouhan, a member of the Rashtriya Rifles, accidentally crossed into Pakistan during a routine patrol. Amid heightened tensions between the two countries, Chouhan’s situation became a major diplomatic issue. However, through sustained diplomatic negotiations, Chouhan was repatriated in January 2017.
Similarly, in May 2018 seven Indian engineers working on a power project in Afghanistan’s northern province of Baghlan were abducted by the Taliban. This incident posed a significant diplomatic challenge for India, given the volatile security situation in the region and the complexities of dealing with non-state actors. Over several months, the Indian government engaged in intense diplomatic efforts and negotiations, reportedly including discussions around the release of certain Taliban leaders in exchange for the safe return of the engineers. These efforts eventually led to the successful release of six of the seven engineers.
One of the most dramatic rescues occurred in February 2019 when Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured by Pakistani forces after an aerial dogfight over the Line of Control, following the Balakot airstrike. Within 48 hours, intense diplomatic pressure led by India, that also involved the top office of the U.S government engaging with then Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan ensured his safe return.
Abhinandan’s capture and subsequent release were regarded as a symbol of India’s strength and resolve in the face of national security challenges, as it came amid reports that India was ready to launch missile strikes on key Pakistani military assets if he was not released within the set deadline.
Apart from these individual cases, the government of India has also undertaken multiple coordination and rescues involving larger numbers of its citizens.
In 2021, following the Taliban’s rapid takeover of Kabul on 15 August, India launched Operation Devi Shakti to evacuate its citizens and Afghan allies from Afghanistan. The operation began promptly on 16 August, with the Indian Air Force conducting airlifts to evacuate people from the war-torn country. The first flight evacuated 40 Indians.
Subsequent flights carried more Indians, along with Afghan Sikhs and Hindus seeking refuge in India. By the end of Operation Devi Shakti, over 800 people had been evacuated, including Indian diplomats, aid workers, and official personnel.
In August 2022, another case made international headlines when eight Indians, including former Indian Navy personnel, were detained in Qatar and subsequently given prison sentences.
In February 2023, after intense negotiations, Delhi was able to bring
Significantly, from 2022 to 2024, Government of India rescued more than 1,167 Indian citizens from Cambodia who had been lured there under fake job offers and then forced to engage in cybercrime.
During the Covid pandemic, which led to international air services being suspended, the government swiftly implemented special arrangements like air bubble agreements and the Vande Bharat Mission. Through these efforts, around 3.20 crore people, including 1.61 crore outbound and 1.59 crore inbound passengers, were successfully transported between May 2020 and March 2022.
The fact that many of those who were able to come back to their home during these difficult times were sharp critics of the PM and his policies are not known to many.
In February 2022, Operation Ganga was initiated to rescue 18,282 Indians from war-torn Ukraine. More recently, in April 2023, Operation Kaveri was launched to evacuate 4,097 people from Sudan, including 136 foreign nationals.