The Taliban want to resume commercial flights from Kabul from August 31

The Taliban insist on regaining control of the Kabul airport by August 31 and announce the resumption of commercial flights from that date.

This has been transmitted by the deputy head of his political office in Qatar, Sher M. Abbas Stanikzai, to the German ambassador to that Gulf country, Markus Potzel, according to a Taliban spokesman.

Afghan Islamists have asked Turkey for help to manage the airfield.

His answer is still unknown.

More information

• CIA director met with Taliban political leader in Kabul on Monday

• Merkel says Germany will try to continue evacuating Afghans after August 31

Suhail Shahin, a member of the Taliban delegation in Doha (Qatar) and a spokesman for international media, reported this Wednesday on his Twitter account that Stanikzai and Potzel discussed "political issues and the situation at the Kabul airport."

The Taliban representative has reiterated that foreign troops must leave the airfield on time.

"It will open the way for the resumption of civil flights," he says.

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Sher M. Abbas Stanikzai, Deputy Director, PO and his accompanying delegation met with Markus Potzel, German Ambassador to Afghanistan and his accompanying delegation in Doha, yesterday.

Political issues and situation of the Kabul Airport came under discussion.

- Suhail Shaheen.

محمد سهیل شاهین (@ suhailshaheen1) August 25, 2021

The German ambassador also confirmed the meeting with Stanikzai.

"He assured me that Afghans with valid documents will continue to have the ability to travel on commercial flights after August 31," he tweeted.

On Tuesday, the Taliban, who had been asking Afghans not to go to the airport for days, announced that they were blocking their access.

The measure raised concern as it was not clear whether it affected only those without adequate documentation, or also those who have safe conduct to travel to the United States and other host countries.

In addition, the Afghans are denouncing the growing difficulties and even the mistreatment they encounter at the checkpoints that the militia has installed on the access roads to the airfield.

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The Taliban have expressed their displeasure at the brain drain that is taking place and have asked Washington not to encourage it.

But many Afghans fear retaliation for having worked with Western embassies or armies and distrust the amnesty announced by Islamists.

Civil flights were interrupted on Sunday 15 when the United States took control of the Hamid Karzai International Airport to remove its citizens, allies and collaborators from the country, as the Taliban entered Kabul. Since then, tens of thousands of Afghans wishing to escape have concentrated outside the compound, making evacuation difficult. The stampedes and shootings have caused a score of deaths amid mounting tension.

As many professionals have fled or gone into hiding, it is unclear whether the Taliban have qualified personnel to operate the airport. At the beginning of the summer, Turkey, which under NATO managed the military part of the airfield, offered to take care of the civilian operation. Then, he ruled out that possibility given the way events were precipitated. However, he left the door open to "provide security and technical support" if requested by the Taliban.

According to the Reuters news agency, that request has been produced and Ankara is weighing the response. This is a difficult decision given the huge crowd of Afghans willing to remain around the compound until they are allowed to board a plane. But it is also risky for the Turkish military. Even with the congratulations of the new Afghan power, there is the threat of attacks by the local branch of the Islamic State, an extremist group that rivals the Taliban.

Meanwhile, the process of formation of the new Government continues slowly. According to the Pajhwok agency, the Islamists have already appointed the (acting) ministers of Interior and Finance, as well as the new head of the secret services and the governor of Kabul. But in the street, confusion and concern prevail over the collapse of the local currency, the Afghani, which is sending prices skyrocketing. The Taliban themselves recognize it. "It is urgent that an advisory team of economists be formed to deal with the recession and restore bank credit, in order to remove existing barriers to the economy," tweeted Abdulsalam Zaeef, who as ambassador to Pakistan became the face of the former Taliban regime.

اړينه ده چې داقتصادي رکود دماتولو او دبانکي اعتبار دبيرته اعاده کولو اپاره داقتصادي کار پوهانو مشورتي ټيم تشکيل سي, ترڅو داقصاد په وړاندي شته خنډونه له منځه يوسي.

- Abdul Salam Zaeef.

عبدالسلام ضعيف (@abdulsalamzaeef) August 25, 2021

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