Taliban negotiate with key country to reopen Kabul airport

Qatar He is negotiating with the Taliban to reopen Kabul airport “as soon as possible”, which has become a complex strategic and humanitarian challenge, Foreign Minister Mohamed bin Abdelrahman al Thani reported today.

After being the first to land a plane yesterday at Kabul airport, less than 48 hours after the withdrawal of US forces from the Afghan capital, Qatar today confirmed that it is working tirelessly to resume operations in the installation.

“We are confident that we can get the airport up and running as soon as possibleHopefully in the next few days we will receive good news, ”the minister said at a press conference in the Qatari capital, Doha.

The official considered that “it is very important that the taliban show their commitment providing a safe route out of the country and ensuring freedom of movement for the Afghan people. “

Today landed in Acceptance a new plane from Qatar with personnel who will study the security conditions and the technical aspects for its reopening, the airport.

An Afghan civil aviation official said on television Al Jazeera that Qatar would start operating the airport “soon” and added that “domestic flights will start tomorrow, but for international flights it will take time.”

Qatar played a mediating role in the peace process between the Afghan government and the Taliban, before they took power on August 15, and has since maintained a privileged link with the new Islamist regime installed in Kabul.

For its part, Turkey He “evaluates” the proposals of the Taliban and other interlocutors.

“The Taliban asked us to cooperate, as well as other countries, for reopening. We have all studied them, ”said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, quoted by the AFP news agency.

The international airport is located just 5 kilometers from the center of Kabul and has only one take-off runway, forcing planes to fly over the city until they are free.

His situation makes him vulnerable to mortar, rocket and other fire, as revealed by the Islamic State group in Khorasan on August 26, following an explosion that killed hundreds, including 13 Americans.

United States, at the express request of President Joe Biden, responded the next day by throwing two drones at a vehicle that killed several people, including four children.