Will India resume flight operations to Afghanistan after Taliban writes to DGCA?

India may soon start its commercial flight operations to Afghanistan. After the Taliban takeover of Kabul and the subsequent evacuation of US and NATO troops from the war-torn country, some Indians are still stranded there. The last commercial flight between both the countries was operated by Air India on the Kabul-Delhi route on August 15, the day Kabul fell to the Taliban.

Taliban took full control of the Kabul airport on August 31 after the last batch of US forces left Afghanistan on August 30.

Earlier, the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) received a letter from the civil aviation wing of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seeking permission to resume commercial flights to Kabul. The letter by Taliban dated September 7, 2021, also mentioned that the Kabul airport has become operational. 

The letter is currently under review by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and DGCA is yet to take a final decision in the matter. Officials also said that the government is considering the request in view of the stranded Indians. Around 2,000 Indian workers are still stuck in Afghanistan.

As per media reports, these Indian workers were employed in various developmental projects in Afghanistan. It is said that around 50% of these workers have not been able to make contact with the Indian authorities that facilitated the evacuations. Many Indian traders also chose to remain there at that time.

Contents of the letter

"As you are well informed that recently the Kabul airport was damaged and (left) dysfunctional by American troops before their withdrawal," CAA's Acting Minister Alhaj Hameedullah Akhunzada said in the letter.

"The intention of this letter is to keep the smooth passenger movement between two countries based on signed MoU and our national carriers (Ariana Afghan airline and Kam Air) aim to commence their scheduled flights. Therefore, Afghanistan CAA requests you to facilitate their commercial flights. The civil aviation of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan avails its highest assurance," he stated further.