Pakistan Airlifts 306 Citizens from Afghanistan After Border Closures, Foreign Ministry Says
In a weekly press briefing, Tahir Hussain Andarabi, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, said the country had evacuated 306 of its citizens from Afghanistan by air following the closure of border crossings. He noted that the Pakistani embassy had coordinated closely with local Taliban authorities to facilitate the operation.
Since October 11, a total of 1,199 Pakistanis had approached the embassy in Kabul seeking assistance to return home, including 549 students and 402 others, of whom only 306 were able to depart. Andarabi emphasized that Pakistan’s diplomatic missions in Afghanistan continue to liaise with Taliban officials to ensure the safety, welfare, and secure return of its citizens.
The Afghan-Pakistan border crossings were closed on October 11, following a Taliban attack on Pakistan, and remain shut after 82 days. However, Islamabad has agreed that the crossings may remain open solely for returning Afghan migrants and for the delivery of United Nations aid.
Taliban officials later indicated that they would reopen the borders only if Pakistan provided strong guarantees against future closures.
