50 Indian diplomats, security personnel evacuated from Afghanistan's Kandahar as Taliban advances
New Delhi, Jul 11: India has pulled out around 50 diplomats and security personnel from its consulate in Kandahar in Afghanistan in view of the deteriorating security situation and the Taliban gaining control of new areas around the southern Afghan city, people familiar with the development said on Sunday.
A special aircraft of the Indian Air Force was sent on Saturday to bring back the Indian diplomats, officials and other staff members including a group of Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel, they said.
India's move to temporarily shut the consulate in Kandahar came in view of Taliban fighters rapidly seizing control of a number of key areas in the region as well as in western Afghanistan triggering huge security concerns.
On Tuesday, the Indian embassy in Kabul said there was no plan to close the embassy and the consulates in Kandahar and Mazar-e-Sharif.
Two days back, the Ministry of External said India was carefully monitoring the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and its implications on the safety and security of Indian nationals.
"Our response will be calibrated accordingly," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing on Thursday.
Afghanistan witnessed a series of terror attacks in the last few weeks as the US looked to complete the withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan by August-end, ending a nearly two-decade of its military presence in the war-ravaged country.
There were reports that at least two foreign missions in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, have closed their operation in view of escalating violence in the region.
Amid growing concerns in India over the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, Afghan Ambassador Farid Mamundzay on Tuesday briefed Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on the situation in Afghanistan.
The Indian embassy last week asked all Indians visiting, staying and working in Afghanistan to exercise the utmost caution with regard to their security and avoid all types of non-essential travel in view of rising incidents of violence in various parts of the country.
In an advisory, the embassy said the security situation in Afghanistan remains "dangerous" and that terror groups have carried out a series of complex attacks including targeting civilians, adding Indian nationals additionally face a "serious threat" of kidnapping.
India has been a major stakeholder in the peace and stability of Afghanistan. It has already invested nearly USD three billion in aid and reconstruction activities in the country.
India has been supporting a national peace and reconciliation process which is Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled.
In March, Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar visited India during which Jaishankar conveyed to him India's long-term commitment towards a peaceful, sovereign and stable Afghanistan.
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Punjab govt to roll out play-based learning kit 'Khed Pitara' for primary school students
Chandigarh (PTI): The Punjab government is set to introduce 'Khed Pitara', a play-based learning kit, across public primary schools to ensure joyful and meaningful learning for students, an official statement said on Saturday.
"Far more than a classroom intervention, this initiative represents a long-term investment in Punjab's human capital. By focusing on children between the ages of 3 and 8, the Bhagwant Singh Mann government is strengthening the very foundation of learning at a stage that determines future academic success, confidence and cognitive development," it said.
Punjab's Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said, "'Khed Pitara' will ensure that children do not experience schooling as pressure, but as discovery, creativity and confidence-building, and that this initiative reflects the government's commitment to building strong academic foundations that will yield results for decades to come."
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The state government is investing around Rs 9.3 crore in this initiative, and will benefit approximately 7.5 lakh children studying in the foundational stage across Punjab, the statement said.
This initiative reflects the government's commitment to transforming classrooms in the foundational stage from nursery to Class 2 into engaging, child-centred, play-based learning environments that promote learning through play, exploration and hands-on activities, it said.
It is a first-of-its-kind initiative being implemented by the Punjab government at this scale, it added.
All printed materials are being provided in Punjabi to ensure better comprehension and meaningful learning for young children across Punjab, it said.
'Khed Pitara' is a comprehensive play-based learning-teaching material kit designed for children aged 3 to 8 years, covering nursery to Class 2, it said.
The kit promotes experiential, activity-based and joyful learning by enabling children to learn through play, exploration and interaction rather than memorisation.
By shifting the focus from rote learning to activity-based engagement, the government is nurturing curiosity, creativity and confidence in young learners from the very beginning of their educational journey, laying a foundation that will shape Punjab's future workforce and leadership, the statement read.
Through this initiative, classrooms will become more interactive, inclusive and child-friendly by enabling learning through play and exploration, it said.
The kit is designed to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy, improve language and communication skills, foster creativity and imagination, develop problem-solving abilities, support social and emotional growth and reduce stress and fear associated with early schooling, it added.
Instead of passive learning, children will participate in storytelling, games, hands-on activities and collaborative tasks that make learning natural and enjoyable.
"By investing at this foundational stage, the Mann government is ensuring that learning gaps are addressed early, reducing long-term disparities and building a confident generation prepared for higher education and emerging opportunities," the statement said.
The kits, which will be distributed to around 12,856 government primary schools by April 1, include age-appropriate learning materials for early grades such as toys and manipulatives, puzzles and games, story cards and flash cards, posters and activity books, puppets and play materials, along with teacher resource materials.
Each component supports key developmental areas, including language, numeracy, creativity and social learning, ensuring holistic development of children across Punjab.
Teachers handling foundational stage classes will also receive structured support through activity-based teaching materials to strengthen classroom implementation, the statement said.
Procurement has been completed promptly, distribution is in the final stage and work orders are being issued for supply to schools, it said.
Meanwhile, Bains said the state government believes the real transformation of education begins at the foundational stage.
"By investing in children between 3 and 8 years of age, the Mann government is making a strategic, long-term investment in Punjab's future, he said.
