KABUL: Two Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft carrying 499 passengers, which had been stuck at Kabul airport, have been permitted to fly and are on their way to Islamabad.
According to details, one is a Boeing 777 which has 329 passengers, while the other is an Airbus 320 with 170 passengers. Both are bound for Islamabad. Among the passengers are diplomats from Pakistan and their families, as well as other countries.
A PIA spokesman said three flights will be operated between Islamabad and Kabul tomorrow as well, as there is a large volume of Pakistanis and other nationals looking to leave Kabul.
Earlier, the aircraft were not being allowed the use of the runway to take off as the US military evacuated American diplomats.
According to a private news channel, two helicopters belonging to the US military were blocking the runway and over the past few hours, four C-130 cargo planes, also belonging to the US military, landed for evacuations of American diplomats.
The media outlet, while quoting sources, said the Kabul airport’s air traffic control “has no control over what is happening”. “All air traffic is being controlled by the US army soldiers,” they added.
Earlier in the day, Ambassador of Afghanistan to Pakistan Mansoor Ahmed Khan had tweeted that the embassy is “engaged with PIA to accomodate Pakistanis on regular and additional flights”.
“We are also assisting those who have issue of affordability. Contact the Embassy,” he said.
