RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Inter­national Airlines (PIA) on Monday suspended its flights to Afghanistan due to the uncertain security situation in the war-ravaged country and the mess prevailing at Kabul airport’s apron.

PIA spokesman Abdulllah Hafeez said the decision was taken after holding consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Afghan Civil Aviation Authority.

Videos and pictures released on social media showed violent crowds overrunning the runway and climbing on the stairs of a US Aviation plane.

“Due to the uncertain security situation at Kabul airport, PIA has suspended its flights,” Mr Hafeez said, adding that the decision was taken to ensure “safety of passengers, staff and assets”.

On Sunday, PIA had decided to expand its flight operations to Kabul in order to repatriate 900 Pakistanis and other foreigners and also sought permission from the foreign ministry to operate special flights. The spokesman had said that PIA would operate three flights to Kabul on Monday.

However, after the crowd forced their way onto the runway and apron and seized the passenger plane and halted the takeoff of the US Aviation plane, PIA decided to suspend its flights operation to Kabul.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2021