As the Taliban gain in Kandahar, India withdraws its diplomats.

MUMBAI: As Taliban fighters consolidate power amid international troop withdrawals, India announced on Sunday that it has temporarily recalled personnel from its consulate in Kandahar, a significant city in southern Afghanistan.

“India-based soldiers have been called back for the time being due to severe fighting near Kandahar city,” said Arindam Bagchi, India’s foreign ministry’s top spokeswoman.

“India is keeping a careful eye on the developing security situation in Afghanistan,” Bagchi said, adding that India’s embassy in Kandahar was temporarily operated by locals.

Taliban leaders claimed control of 85 percent of Afghanistan’s land on Friday, as the United States and countries begin to withdraw the majority of their forces after 20 years of combat. Officials from the Afghan government rejected the claim as a smear effort.

India’s foreign minister called for an end to the bloodshed on Friday, saying that the situation in the war-torn country had a direct impact on regional security.