First Foreign Plane Lands at Kabul Airport since Taliban’s Takeover
The first foreign plane since the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan has landed.
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PIA lands at Kabul Airport
A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane has landed at Kabul Airport, becoming the first since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan.
The plane had 10 passengers on board, minus the cabin crew, local press sources indicated.
This trip constitutes the first indication of the normalization of economic relations between Pakistan and the Taliban Movement.
In a different context, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, announced that his visit to Kabul aims to assess the emergency humanitarian needs and the overall situation in Afghanistan.
In a tweet, Grandi expressed his gratitude to all UN and NGO workers for doing whatever it takes to meet those needs.
This morning I have landed in Kabul.
— Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) September 13, 2021
During my visit I will assess the country’s acute humanitarian needs and the situation of 3.5 million displaced Afghans.
I am grateful to all UN, NGO and other humanitarian workers who are working hard on the ground to meet those needs. pic.twitter.com/8i8FDuVHoa
The United Nations is holding a conference in Geneva to raise more than $600 million to support Afghanistan, amid warnings of a humanitarian crisis in the country.
The Geneva Conference is attended by top UN officials, including Guterres, and dozens of government representatives.
UN estimates indicate that half of Afghanistan's population depends on humanitarian aid, at a time when UN officials have warned that this number will rise due to drought and lack of cash and food.
The estimates also indicate that half the population - or 18 million people - is dependent on aid, yet this figure looks set to increase due to drought and shortages of cash and food, UN officials and aid groups warn.
