Humanitarian flights to Afghanistan resume amid Panjshir clashes

UN flights link the Pakistani capital Islamabad with the Afghan cities of Mazar-i-Sharif and Kandahar.

The United Nations has resumed humanitarian flights to northern and southern Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover, a spokesman has announced, as the country’s new rulers clash with rebel fighters who are defending their territory in Panjshir Valley north of Kabul. The UN Humanitarian Air Service is now operating flights “to enable 160 humanitarian organisations to continue their life-saving activities in Afghanistan’s provinces,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters. Three flights have already landed in Mazar-i-Sharif since August 29. Tens of thousands of Afghans have been internally displaced due to the recent violence. As many as half a million others are also estimated to become refugees in neighbouring countries such as Pakistan and Iran.