The aviation authorities in Afghanistan on Monday blamed Pakistan forunilaterally and arbitrarily cutting up to 80% flights of an Afghanairliner shuttling passengers between the two neighbors.
According to the Afghanistan Aviation Authority, Islamabad has cut the KamAir flights from Islamabad to Kabul by 80%, citing the coronaviruspandemic. Mohammad Naeem, spokesman for the aviation body, stated that iftalks with Pakistan failed to address the issue, Kabul would reciprocatethe move and impose similar restrictions on Pakistan’s national flagcarrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
“The PIA is conducting five flights a week from Islamabad to Kabul, but theflights of Kam Air have been dropped from five per week to only one inclear violation of the bilateral agreement in this regard,” he said, addingif COVID-19 is the reason, why not limit the PIA flights as well.
This comes amid an evident surge in flights from Pakistan to Afghanistan,carrying thousands of Pakistani migrants wishing to fly onward to the Gulfcountries.
Afghanistan on Monday recorded 1,566 coronavirus infections and 30 deaths –its highest single day toll in the ongoing third wave of the pandemic. Withthis, the cumulative total of known COVID-19 cases surged to 73,256, andthe death total reached 2,974 while the number of recoveries stood at57,630.
Last week, Afghanistan closed down all universities, schools, and otheracademic institutions.
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“We are desperately trying to manage the third wave of the pandemic, but ifpeople continued to defy health guidelines such as keeping social distance,wearing mask and washing hands, a catastrophe is imminent. Do not expect amiracle,” Health Minister Waheed Majrooh said while issuing a stern warningabout the surging infections.
In February, Afghanistan began the vaccine rollout following the WorldHealth Organization’s emergency use approval for the Indian-made shots. Thecountry received 500,000 doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccinefrom India, locally known as Covishield. It is being produced by the SerumInstitute of India for mid- and low-income countries. An equal amount ofthe doses of the same vaccine has been gifted to Afghanistan by India.
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