Afghanistan: chartered plane arrives in Kabul to collect Pen Farthing and his animals | UK news

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A charter plane has successfully arrived in Kabul to collect Pen Farthing and his rescue animals, Sky News understands.

British forces will load dozens of cats and dogs that belonged to the former Royal Navy before they hoped to escape from Afghanistan after the Taliban took over.

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Photo: Farthing’s Operation Ark has proven hugely divisive, attracting huge support and controversy

Paul “Ben” Farthing’s “Operation Astronomy” campaign to get his staff and animals out of the Nawzad Shelter from Kabul divided public opinion, gained significant support but also generated widespread controversy.

Defense Secretary Ben Wallace criticized some Farthing supporters for “consuming too much time” for the senior leaders.

This comes as the commander of the British armed forces confirmed that the United Kingdom will conclude the process of evacuating civilians on Saturday.

General Sir Nick Carter said there were now “very few” civilian evacuation flights arriving in Britain from Kabul.

Defense sources said the last evacuation flight assigned to the UK had left Kabul at night.

Labor shadow defense minister John Healy told Sky News that thousands have been left behind – including about 1,000 Afghans who have worked for Britain since the war in Afghanistan began 20 years ago.

Visas were granted to 24 of Mr. Farthing’s employees and their families.

But he refused to leave without his animals and hopes to get 200 dogs and cats out of Afghanistan.

Pen Farthing and his pets have been helped through the system at Kabul Airport by the British Armed Forces. They are currently supported while awaiting transfer.

– Ministry of Defense Information Office (DefenceHQPress) August 27, 2021

defencehqpress At the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the UK government sponsored their charter flight permit.

– Ministry of Defense Information Office (DefenceHQPress) August 27, 2021

Wallace blamed the campaign for distracting attention from helping the most vulnerable flee during the crisis.

Despite his reservations, last night the Department of Defense announced on Twitter how Mr. Farthing and his animals were about to escape.

“Pen Farthing and his pets are being assisted through the system at Kabul Airport by the UK Armed Forces. They are currently being supported while awaiting transfer,” the tweet read.

She added: “At the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the charter flight permit has been approved by the UK government.”

Image: Defense Secretary Ben Wallace criticized Farthing for “taking up too much time” for military personnel.

Farthing claimed on social media how his team and their rescue animals managed to reach Kabul airport on Thursday, but were “turned away” due to changes in paperwork hours earlier.

He said his team was 300 meters inside Kabul airport but ended up getting caught in the suicide bombing outside Kabul airport that killed two Britons and the child of a third British citizen.

“We went through hell to get there and were reduced to the chaos of those devastating explosions,” Farthing said on Twitter.

But Mr Wallace has criticized supporters of the former Royal Navy for “bullying, lies and threatening behavior” towards Defense Ministry staff.

“I think my senior leaders have taken a very long time to deal with this issue when they should focus on dealing with the humanitarian crisis,” he told LBC.

Photo: Pen Farthing, filmed in Kabul in 2012, refused to leave Kabul without saving the animals

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Mr. Farthing adopted his dog, Nawzad, named after a district in Helmand, during a tour of Afghanistan in 2006.

He later founded the charity to make sure dogs and some cats are neutered and vaccinated against rabies before traveling abroad.

We now stock more than 300 dogs since their founding – many of them have gone on to soldiers from the USA and Britain, but also from South Africa, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands.

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