Taliban in talks to reopen Kabul airport

Turkey and Qatar are involved in talks over the provision of necessary services for the resumption of commercial flights at Kabul airport, which is currently uncontrolled and without functioning safety and security procedures.

Following the completion of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, a NOTAM was issued on August 30, declaring Kabul airport uncontrolled and lacking any airport services. Earlier, the entirety of Afghan airspace was rendered off-limits to civilian aircraft due to the lack of air traffic control, although some operations remained allowed with permission from NATO’s ISAF force.

However, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told the France 2 broadcaster that the international community has been trying to secure a way to continue evacuations or travel in general onboard commercial flights.

“The Security Council resolution about securing the airport must be implemented. There are talks underway with the Qataris and Turks about the management of the airport. We must demand that access to the airport is safe,” he said.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid underlined in a statement to Al Jazeera that the group has been trying to secure the airport and believed it was capable of running the gateway. However, he also admitted that talks were ongoing with the Qatari and Turkish authorities without disclosing the level of the foreign parties’ potential involvement.

On September 1, a C-17 operated by Qatar Emiri Air Force (Doha Al Udeid) landed at Kabul airport. According to AFP’s sources, the aircraft carrier a team of specialists from Qatar tasked with security and restoring the operational capabilities of the airport.

Meanwhile, the Afghan Islamic Press independent news agency has reported that the head of the Taliban-run civil aviation authority, Ahlaj Hamidullah Akhundzada, has called upon all pilots, who fled the country during the last few weeks, to return to Afghanistan and to their duties. Concerns about the safety of employees, particularly women, persist. In a video appeal circulating online, a group of female Ariana Afghan Airlines cabin crew alleged that all women employed by the company were pre-emptively fired by management as the Taliban swept to power.

Editorial Comment: The article updates with reports of the Qatari C-17 arrival into Kabul – 02.09.2021 – 07:45 UTC