Over 100 more Turkish nationals evacuated from Afghan capital

By Aykut Karadag

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - Over 100 more Turkish nationals were flown out from Afghanistan's capital late on Friday in a transport aircraft of the Turkish Air Force.

As efforts to evacuate the Turkish citizens from the war-torn country continue at the Hamid Karzai International Airport, more than a hundred citizens including five health professionals were rescued by Turkish security forces from areas in central Kabul where they were stuck.

Departing from Kabul on Friday evening, the aircraft is expected to land in Pakistan, where the passengers will be transferred to Turkey on a Turkish Airlines flight.

The evacuees thanked Turkish officials for their support amid the Taliban's sudden takeover of the capital on Aug. 15, forcing the president and other top officials to leave the country.

The unexpected power grab has triggered a rush to flee Afghanistan, including civilians who assisted foreign soldiers or groups and now fear Taliban retribution.

*Writing by Dilan Pamuk in Ankara