PIA seeks Taliban’s go-ahead for flight resumption

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): The Pakistan International Airlines is waiting permission from the Taliban for the resumption of flights to Afghan cities.

The commercial airline operated flights from Kabul since the Taliban’s takeover of the Kabul to different cities including the country’s capital and Mazar-i-Sharif.

The PIA has received requests from 7,000-8,000 Afghans, journalists, staff of multinational firms and UN workers for evacuation to European countries, Canada and the US.

But due to the uncertain security situation at the Kabul airport, the airline could not operate flights to Afghanistan’s capital, a PIA spokesman explained.

He said: “There are no ATC, radar and other facilities to operate commercial flights to Kabul. Therefore, PIA flights have been placed on hold.”

The PIA operated seven special flights and repatriated 1,460 foreigners stranded in Afghanistan.

As a result of Taliban’s ban on Afghan citizens’ departure from the country, the PIA did not operate special flights and instead the national flag carrier asked travellers to reach Kabul airport on their own.

The PIA said it would send planes to Kabul to evacuate people as it could not take responsibility for bringing passengers to the airport.

The spokesman added: “The Taliban do not want a brain drain and they have already announced an amnesty for Afghan people.

“However, they have allowed foreigners to leave Afghanistan for their home countries,” he continued.

The European Union and Asian Development Bank have sought help from PIA to evacuate their employees from Afghanistan.

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