DUBAI (REUTERS) - The third chartered flight bringing civilians from Afghanistan to Qatar since US forces withdrew last month landed on Friday (Sept 17) with around 170 passengers on board, including US and European citizens as well as Afghans, a Qatari official said.
Foreign nationals on board include those from Belgium, Britain, Croatia, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy as well as the United States, the official said.
The passengers were transported to Kabul airport in a Qatari convoy after the Gulf Arab state reached a safe-passage agreement with Afghanistan's new rulers, the Taliban, the official said.
In Doha, the passengers will initially stay in a compound that is hosting Afghans and other evacuees.
Qatar has emerged has a key interlocutor between the West and the Taliban. The Gulf state is a close US ally, hosting the largest American military base in the Middle East, and has hosted a Taliban political office since 2013.
Related Story
Divisions and rivalries within ruling Taliban surfacing in Afghanistan
Related Story
UN refugee chief warns 'greater suffering' likely in Afghanistan
Related Stories:
Related Story
No specific terrorist threat to S'pore arising from Afghanistan situation: ISD
Related Story
South Koreans welcome, extend goodwill to Afghan evacuees
Related Story
Taliban has its work cut out to win hearts and minds in Kabul
Related Story
Rallies in Kabul called off after Taliban outlaws protests
Related Story
Taliban announces hardline government as protests grow
Related Story
Plenty of post-mortems on US war in Afghanistan but little sign of self-reflection
Related Story
Taliban vs ISIS-K: Why the contest is so dangerous
Related Story
Europe ponders its Afghanistan options
Related Story
With Kabul airport closed, fearful Afghans rush for the border
Related Story
US drone strike wiped out Kabul family, brother says
Join ST's Telegram channel here and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Topics:
More Whatsapp Linkedin FB Messenger Telegram Reddit WeChat Pinterest Print Purchase Article Copy permalink https://str.sg/3SBk