An Afghan plane carrying more than 100 foreign passengers lands in Doha | Afghanistan

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A plane carrying more than 100 international passengers from Kabul has landed in Doha, the first civilian flight of its kind since the chaotic evacuation of 124,000 foreigners and Afghans at risk due to the Taliban’s swift takeover of the country.

Officials said about 113 people were on the Doha-bound flight operated by state-owned Qatar Airways. Among the passengers were American, British, Canadian, Ukrainian, Dutch and German citizens.

Qatari Special Envoy Mutlaq bin Majid Al-Qahtani described Thursday’s flight as a normal flight, not an evacuation, and said there would be another flight on Friday. In Doha, passengers will initially remain in a complex hosting Afghans and other evacuees.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken thanked the Taliban and Qatari authorities, calling the trip “tangible evidence” of the US commitment to helping its citizens and others who helped the US continue to leave Afghanistan.

Earlier, National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne praised the Taliban’s cooperation on the flight. “They have shown flexibility, and have been the business and professionals in our dealings with them in this effort,” she said, adding that efforts to secure more departures would continue.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said 10 US citizens and 11 permanent residents were on the flight, among “39 of our requests.” Canada said 43 of its citizens were on board, while the United Kingdom and the Netherlands each had 13.

An Afghan-American dual national, who is waiting to board the plane with his family, said he was contacted by the US State Department on Thursday morning. “We contacted the foreign ministry and they called me this morning and told me to go to the airport,” the father, who asked not to be named, told AFP.

Although international flights have been in and out with officials, technicians and aid in recent days, this was the first civilian flight since the Taliban captured the capital on August 15.

In the days following the Taliban’s takeover of the airport, the airport has become a tragic symbol of desperation among Afghans fearful of the insurgents’ return to power – thousands flock around its gates daily, some even clinging to jets as they take off.

The Taliban’s departure, which they agreed to on Thursday, comes amid growing concerns about the rapid deterioration of the human rights situation under the new rule of the Islamist militant group, including on freedom of expression and women’s rights.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to the international community on Thursday to maintain ties with the Taliban, warning that an “economic collapse” with the potential for millions of deaths must be avoided.

“We must maintain a dialogue with the Taliban, where we affirm our principles directly – a dialogue with a sense of solidarity with the Afghan people,” he told AFP. “Our duty is to offer our solidarity to a suffering people, where millions upon millions are in danger of dying of starvation.”

The UN Secretary-General said there were “no guarantees” about what might result from the talks, but that these discussions are necessary “if we want Afghanistan not to be a center of terrorism, if we want women and girls not to lose all rights gained during the previous period, if we want ethnic groups to feel different as represented.

“So far, in the discussions we’ve had, there is at least receptivity to talk,” added Guterres, who does not rule out going to Afghanistan one day if the conditions are right.

Guterres added that the Taliban want to abolish recognition, financial support and sanctions.

“This gives a certain strength to the international community,” he said, adding that “a situation of economic collapse that could lead to horrific humanitarian consequences must be avoided.”

Guterres suggested that, as with Yemen, “financial instruments” could be expected to be given to Kabul that are not subject to current sanctions.

“This is in the interest of the international community and I am not talking about lifting sanctions or recognition. I am talking about targeted measures to allow the Afghan economy to breathe,” he added.

With Reuters and Agence France-Presse

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