Taliban are asking airlines for international service to and fro Kabul. They promise their "full cooperation."
Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the foreign ministry, stated that flights were suspended and Afghans left stranded in other countries.
After thousands tried to flee Afghanistan, Kabul Airport was destroyed.
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According to Reuters, the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated Sunday that the Taliban asked airlines for commercial flights to Kabul. They claimed the airport was now "fully operational" but promised "full cooperation" to carriers.
According to a tweet from Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a ministry spokesperson, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is the Taliban's new term for their government. This is a move that comes after the Islamic group overtook the Western-backed government in August. It forced thousands of people to evacuate Kabul Airport as a way to flee extremist rule.
Abdul Qahar Balkhihe, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry, stated that "the problems at Kabul International Airport are now solved and the airport can be fully operational for domestic or international flights." He also tweeted the following statement:
According to CNBC, Kabul Airport is now open. It has been repaired by Turkish and Qatari technical teams. However, flight prices are higher than usual. Turkish Airlines website states that tickets for commercial flights between Istanbul and Kabul are available starting October 16th, with roundtrip fares starting from $787.
According to Flydubai's website, non-stop service between Dubai and Kabul will be available from UAE. It will begin on January 1. These flights are not yet scheduled.
Flydubai temporarily suspends operations to Kabul in accordance with the directives of the authorities. This is due to the changing situation in the country. Insider was told by a spokesperson for Flydubai that they will continue to monitor the situation.
Many attempted to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban overtook it in mid-August. Some grabbed onto moving planes while others stormed the airport to get into the planes. The airport was left in chaos with broken equipment and damaged runways, which forced it to close.
Kabul Airport was reopened in September for humanitarian assistance and domestic flights. The help of a Qatari technical staff helped to make this happen. Although the Taliban promised that they would allow the flights to depart safely, Rep. Michael McCaul, a Republican lawmaker, stated to Fox News that six American citizens aboard the aircraft were not allowed to fly.
He said, "We know why the Taliban want to exchange something for us."
Taliban authorities allowed certain international services to continue to operate. This included a September flight of Pakistan International Airlines from Pakistan. According to CNN, the staff at Kabul Airport handled the flight and placed signs at the airport. According to Abdullah Khan, spokesperson for PIA, the "special flight" was intended to foster "goodwill" and "strengthen humanitarian efforts."
According to Ned Price, a spokesperson for the State Department, 28 Americans were allowed to fly out of Afghanistan on a chartered Qatar Airways flight. The Taliban cooperated with their departure. According to AP, the September 9th operation was the first of its kind out of Kabul. This signaled a breakthrough in coordination between Afghanistan's new government and the US. Over 200 foreigners including Americans were on board the flight from Kabul to Doha.
