Delhi-Kabul Flights To Be Resumed Soon

Yunus Kanuni, the new Afghan Foreign Minister, has stated in Delhi that air communications between Delhi and Kabul will be resumed in the near future. The flights will be performed by aircraft operated by both Ariana, Afghan airlines, and Indian Airways. This information was reported by the News newspaper of Pakistan. The News also quotes a spokesman for the Pakistani PIA state airlines who stated that "our aircraft will fly out from Peshawar to Kabul as soon as the Afghan situation is settled." According to PIA's spokesman, Pakistan remains Afghanistan's major trade partner and the resumption of commercial flights will enforce economic and trade relations between the two bordering countries. A Pakistani special state commission has already held a session in Islamabad. Its agenda included the discussion of plans of Pakistani participation in the restoration of the Afghan economy, including the possible degree of aviation's involvement. Experts believe that Afghan aircraft fleet is totally outdated. Afghanistan currently has only 2 aircraft left at its disposal. Six jets were destroyed during US bombing raids. Moreover, the UN Security Council resolution imposing sanctions against the Taliban regime prohibited the Afghan Ariana airlines from performing international flights.