Afghanistan: race to reopen Kabul airport after US withdrawal
- Qatar and Turkey working with Taliban to reopen Hamid Karzai International Airport
- A frantic US-run airlift ended ahead of the final American withdrawal earlier this week
Qatar said it was working with the Taliban to quickly reopen Kabul’s airport, whose closure since the departure of US troops could pose major strategic and humanitarian challenges.
A jet from the Gulf country was the first foreign aircraft to land in the Afghan capital on Wednesday since frenzied evacuations ended a day earlier with the American withdrawal.
A flight from Doha then landed in Kabul on Thursday, carrying experts who will examine security and operational aspects pertaining to the airport, according to a source close to the matter.
Doha, a major transit point for Afghan refugees, said it was working hard to swiftly resume operations.
“We remain hopeful that we will be able to operate it as soon as possible,” said Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, whose country has close contacts with the Taliban which assumed control of Kabul on August 15.
“It’s very important … that the Taliban demonstrate their commitment to provide safe passage and freedom of movement for the people of Afghanistan,” said Sheikh Mohammed.