Japan To Evacuate Its Nationals And Local Staff From Afghanistan

Japan on Monday dispatched Self-Defense Forces aircraft to Afghanistan to evacuate Japanese nationals and local staff working for the Japanese Embassy there and other organizations amid the political crisis after the Taliban militant group seized power in the country, according to Kyodo News.

Photo Insert: A Japan Self-Defense Forces' C-2 transport aircraft departs from Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Iruma Air Base in Saitama Prefecture.

One C-2 transport aircraft left for a third country, which the government has declined to name, and two C-130 planes are expected to depart Tuesday. Up to several hundred people will be evacuated in the mission, a diplomatic source said.

It will be the first time the SDF has evacuated foreign nationals from a country, according to the Defense Ministry.

"Securing the safety of Japanese people (in Afghanistan) is our top priority, and we also deem it important to secure the safety of local staff of the embassy and JICA remaining there as they include those who wish to leave the country," the top government spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, said.

But there remains a question of safety as evacuees will have to go to the Kabul airport.

A firefight broke out at one of the international airport gates early Monday, and an Afghan security force soldier was killed by "unknown attackers," The Associated Press reported citing German officials, as people are trying to flee the country in a chaotic exodus.

On Saturday, the United States told its citizens in Afghanistan to avoid traveling to the airport.

The three SDF aircraft will initially stand by at an airport in a third country near Afghanistan, the ministry said. As soon as coordination is made with U.S. forces in Afghanistan, which have taken control of the airport, the two C-130s will make round trips for evacuations.

Words

Words

Words

Words

Words

Words

Words

Words

Words

WEEKLY FEATURE : PAL READY TO SOAR WITH PANDEMIC