India’s likely decision to pull out its nationals from Afghanistan is being taken in anticipation of high volatility amid a power vacuum that is expected to develop in the country after the US and NATO troops complete their exit by September. 

Analysts say that India’s approach towards Afghanistan’s transition is driven by two considerations. India will remain committed to Afghanistan, but will ensure that all Indian citizens remain safe.

Not taking any chances foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday was briefed about the security situation in Afghanistan by the country’s ambassador Farid Mamundzay. The Afghan envoy, on his part, was also seeking an assessment of New Delhi’s commitment to Kabul during the eminently fluid situation.

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"Foreign Secretary Shringla assured our Afghan friends of India's long term commitment towards peace and prosperity in Afghanistan," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Tuesday.

India has had a hefty presence in Afghanistan since 2001, following the Taliban’s exit from power amid the US invasion of Afghanistan, in the backdrop of the downing of the twin-towers in New York during a mega-terror attack.

India’s probing fact-finding has been tuned to the rapidity of the US exit from the country, which could leave behind a power vacuum, which the Taliban, known to be  close to arch-rival Pakistan, could fill up.

The Independent newspaper is reporting that hours after the retreat of US troops, photographs from the Bagram airfield, from where they exited in Afghanistan show looting by locals of basketballs, stereo speakers, laptops, bicycle helmets and other pieces of scrap.

The daily pointed out that after two decades of stay, the US troops left on Friday night without alerting the base’s new Afghan commander, Afghan security officials were quoted as saying.

General Mir Asadullah Kohistani, who is Bagram’s new commander, apparently found out about the exit of American troops after more than two hours of their departure.

“We (heard) some rumour that the Americans had left Bagram … and finally by seven o’clock in the morning, we understood that it was confirmed that they had already left Bagram,” General Kohistani was quoted as saying.

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In a separate report the daily said that   the Taliban has already warned that any foreign troops left behind in Afghanistan after the September 11 withdrawal deadline announced by US President Joe Biden would be at risk. 

“We would react and the final decision is with our leadership,” Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, based in Doha, told the BBC.