KABUL, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Shops, markets and schools remained closed today, in the Afghan capital of Kabul, and earlier yesterday, thousands of people crowded the Kabul airport, trying to leave the country.
Taliban members were seen on the street, but it seemed that, they were not enough to maintain law and order, as looting took place in some military institutions, and stolen military vehicles roamed the streets.
In the morning, some schools were open because students had exams, but were advised to close until the situation gets better.
All commercial flights from Kabul airport have been cancelled, said a statement of Afghanistan’s civil aviation authority, released yesterday.
“All flights from Kabul airport have been temporarily cancelled, and passengers should not come to the airport until informed,” the statement said.
The cancellation of the flights took place in the wake of Kabul’s fall to the Taliban on Sunday, and the mass migration of Afghans amid fears.
The civil aviation authority in the statement expressed hope for early restoration of normalcy, noting that the massive rushing of passengers to the airport in the chaotic situation could lead to looting and other disorderly situation.
The civil aviation authority has been trying to resume the flights as soon as possible.
The scheduled Air India (AI) flight that was to fly from Delhi’s airport to Kabul yesterday afternoon has been suspended as the airspace over Afghanistan was closed for all flights, a spokesman of the carrier said.
The spokesman said earlier in the day that, the AI flight would fly to Kabul as per its schedule. However, due to the reported violence at the Kabul airport, leading to a couple of killings, airspace over Kabul was closed and subsequently all flights, taking off and landings, were cancelled.
“Airspace over Afghanistan is declared closed, so no aircraft can operate there. Our scheduled flight to Kabul also cannot go,” the spokesman said in a written message.
Taliban, meanwhile, in a statement told Kabul residents that, their lives and properties are safe and they can carry on with their work.
Afghan President, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, left the country on Sunday night, while the Taliban forces entered the capital and took control of the presidential palace.
The Taliban has assured that all the diplomatic missions and foreign citizens in Kabul will face no danger. Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said, they are committed to ensuring security in the Afghan capital.
The group has taken control of all the districts of Kabul, the Taliban spokesman said.
Another Taliban spokesperson said, the war in Afghanistan is over, and a new power structure will soon be clear.
A curfew had been imposed in Kabul, starting 9:00 p.m. local time on Sunday, to prevent violence.– NNN-AGENCIES
