Taliban calls on Afghan police to return to work
For the first time, Afghan police at Kabul Airport returned to work at checkpoints, side by side with Taliban security forces.
 |
| The Taliban said they have issued a general amnesty for all those who worked for the former government, including the military and police. Photo: AFP |
AFP news agency (France) reported that when Taliban forces advanced into Kabul in August, many Afghan policemen left their posts out of fear.
However, on September 12, some Afghan police were deployed to checkpoints outside the main building of Kabul Airport.
Two Afghan police officers told AFP that they returned to work on the morning of September 11 after receiving calls from Taliban commanders. "A senior Taliban commander called me and asked me to return to work," one said.
The Taliban said they had issued a general amnesty for all those who worked for the former government – including the army, police and other security services. Taliban leaders have said they want to unite opposition forces, but have not said how that will happen or how they will maintain a security apparatus of some 600,000 people.
Kabul Airport was severely damaged during the chaotic evacuation of more than 120,000 people that ended with the withdrawal of US troops on August 30. The Taliban are now looking to get Kabul Airport back up and running with the help of Qatari technicians.
Qatar Airways has been operating flights to and from Kabul in recent days, mainly transporting foreigners in Afghanistan.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has set up an airlift to transport tonnes of aid to Afghanistan.
An Afghan airline resumed domestic flights last week.
Meanwhile, Pakistan International Airlines is expected to launch flights from Islamabad to Kabul in the coming days.
