FIRST INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL FLIGHT LANDS IN KABUL SINCE TALIBAN TAKEOVER

Kabul’s airport saw the first international commercial flight land on Monday since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan on 15 August.

Right after the takeover last month, when the US soldiers left their military base in the country for good, several parts of the airport were destroyed as locals tried to flee living under the rule of the Taliban. Various US army operated flights left Kabul that day, assisting those wanting to flee the country to get out.

Scenes of total chaos followed as US-led forces tried to assist the evacuation of more than 120,000 people, including both locals and foreigners.

With the Taliban scrambling to get the Hamiz Karzai International Airport operational again, several nations including Qatar stepped in to help with the technical aspects.

A Pakistan International Airline plane from Islamabad landed on Monday morning. While it contained about 10 people when it landed, mostly crew, the plane was full when it left for its return flight to Islamabad that same day. Many of the passengers were women who were dying to get out of the country.

Aljazeera reports that the Taliban have repeatedly promised to allowed Afghans with the right documents to leave the country freely.

Image credit: South China Morning Post