India's Evacuation Missions From Conflict Areas in Foreign Soil: Issues and Challenges

India's Evacuation Missions have become increasingly vital for safeguarding its citizens during global crises, as exemplified by the recent Sudan conflict in 2023.

- Dr. S. Krishnan and Avneet Sandhu

India's evacuation missions have become increasingly vital for safeguarding its citizens during global crises, as exemplified by the recent Sudan conflict in 2023. In this mission, India demonstrated its unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of thousands of its nationals trapped in the African nation. However, these missions also present a myriad of challenges, including geopolitical complexities, operational difficulties, and resource constraints.

Rising Complexity in India's Evacuation Missions India's evacuation missions often involve unstable regions where the security situation can change rapidly, making it difficult to plan and execute safe evacuations. The recent rescue of Indians from Sudan highlights this complexity, as the IAF faced intelligence challenges and a rough landing environment. Global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Afghanistan have led to an increased need for evacuation missions in challenging circumstances. In the Kabul mission of August 2021, the pilots faced chaotic and uncontrolled airspace, emphasizing the complexity of such operations.

India's evacuation missions often involve not only Indian citizens but also foreign nationals, adding to the logistical challenges of coordinating with other governments and international organizations. During "Operation Raahat" in 2015, India evacuated over 4,600 Indians and 950 nationals from 41 countries amid the Yemen crisis.

India's evacuation missions require close coordination between various government agencies, the armed forces, and international partners. This increases the complexity of such operations, as demonstrated by India's efforts to evacuate its citizens from Ukraine during the COVID-19 pandemic or from Iraq and Syria.