Ottawa (ANTARA) – Canada plans to resume military flights to Afghanistan to evacuate civilians when the United States regains control of Kabul airport, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) announced Tuesday evening.
“CAF flights will support ongoing operations and evacuate as many Afghans as possible who are in danger due to their close and long-standing relationship with Canada,” a CAF spokesperson said in a statement sent by email to Reuters.
US troops were forced to halt all evacuations after thousands of people desperate to get out of Afghanistan rushed to Kabul airport on Monday (8/16).
Crowds at Kabul airport came after Taliban fighters seized the Afghan capital without a fight.
The airport runways and runways are now clear of the crowds.
Read also: France: the situation at Kabul airport is the most difficult evacuation challenge
Military flights evacuating diplomats and civilians from Afghanistan began to take off on Tuesday morning, a western security official at Kabul airport told Reuters.
Chartered flights carrying Afghans arrived in Canada from Monday (8/16) evening and additional flights will be dispatched from Tuesday (8/17) evening, according to a CAF statement.
“We are working in close coordination with our American partners and allies on plans to resume evacuation flights out of Afghanistan as soon as possible,” CAF said.
CBC News, citing multiple sources, was the first to report news of the resumption of military flights from Canada to Afghanistan.
Source: Reuters
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Translator: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Publisher: Anton Santoso
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