Turkey evacuates more people from Afghanistan

Photo: AA

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A plane carrying 229 citizens of Turkey took off from Afghanistan's Kabul airport last night, the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.

Some 357 people, including 16 infants, evacuated from Kabul arrived in İstanbul earlier yesterday (August 22).

They were first taken to Pakistan on a Turkish Air Force transport plane and then brought to İstanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight, the state-run AA reported.

"There was complete chaos at the Kabul airport. We had a very difficult time getting out of there. I am just so glad to be in Turkey," Ersin Karaduman, owner of a construction firm in Afghanistan, told reporters in İstanbul.

Humayun Hayri, a person from Afghanistan who is also a citizen of Turkey, said he was intent on leaving Afghanistan after the Taliban took control of the country.

A day before, 160 people, including citizens of Turkey and other countries, had arrived in İstanbul.

The Taliban's takeover of the country has triggered a rush to flee Afghanistan, including civilians who assisted foreign soldiers or groups and now fear retribution. (EMK/VK)