Evacuation Of Indonesian Citizens From Afghanistan: Landing Permit Delayed, Indonesian Air Force Plane Two Hours In Kabul

The health team rushed to board the plane after landing at Halimperdanakusuma Airport, Jakarta. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

JAKARTA - The process of evacuating Indonesian citizens (WNI) from Kabul, Afghanistan via Kabul airport, which was originally scheduled to last only 30 minutes, has been pushed back to two hours, according to Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

The Indonesian government evacuated 26 Indonesian citizens from Kabul, Afghanistan using an aircraft belonging to the Indonesian Air Force on Friday, August 20 via Islamabad, and arrived in the country on Saturday, August 21 at around 03.33 WIB.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi revealed that the evacuation team departed from Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, Jakarta on August 18, with routes from Jakarta, Aceh, Colombo, Karachi, Islamabad and then Kabul.

"From the start the plane was designed to spend the night in Islamabad. This decision was taken with the consideration that the Islamabad-Kabul flight is very short, which is about 1 hour or less than 1 hour and the plane can move quickly if the opportunity to land is given at any time," said Foreign Minister Retno in a statement. written statement, Saturday, August 21.

Checking Indonesian citizens' data after the plane lands in Indonesia. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Foreign Minister Retno further explained that after securing all the necessary air traffic permits, the plane landed in Islamabad, Pakistan on August 18 at around 18:27 local time.

"Then, initially we had managed to get a landing slot for August 19 in the morning, at around 04:10. However, the permit was later withdrawn and postponed due to unfavorable field developments. The very rapid changes illustrate the dynamics in the field that are constantly changing," he explained.

Foreign Minister Retno said the team in Jakarta immediately carried out further coordination to obtain permission to land in Kabul, as well as carry out the evacuation process for Indonesian citizens. This includes communications with the Turkish Foreign Minister, the Norwegian Foreign Minister, the Netherlands, the United States and NATO.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi with TNI Commander Marshal TNI Hadi Tjahjanto during a welcoming ceremony at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, Jakarta. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

"In the early hours of August 20, information was obtained that a new landing permit had been obtained. The evacuation team immediately made preparations and the Indonesian Air Force plane departed for Kabul on August 20 at around 04.10 then arrived in Kabul at 05.17 local time," said Foreign Minister Retno.

"The initial plan was that the plane only stopped for 30 minutes. However, dynamics occurred again, so the plane was at Kabul Airport for approximately 2 hours. The Indonesian Air Force plane flew from Kabul at 07.10 and arrived back in Islamabad at 08.11 WS to refuel, and then return to fly using the same route at the time of departure," he said.

He added that the Government would like to thank the government and authorities for the cooperation provided by India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, the US, NATO, Turkey, Norway and the Netherlands.

"We evacuated all 26 Indonesian citizens, all in good condition. One note, one diplomat is in an unwell condition (non-COVID) and will be treated immediately," he concluded.

To note, the Taliban militia managed to enter Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan on Sunday, August 15, forcing President Ashraf Ghani to leave and foreign countries decided to evacuate diplomatic missions and their citizens from Afghanistan.