Rome, Italy:
Italy’s last evacuation flight from Kabul will leave Afghanistan in the “next few hours”, with a prime NATO envoy on board, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio stated Friday.
He stated all the Italian nationals who wanted to leave had been evacuated, along with about 4,900 Afghan civilians.
The last diplomats and military — of whom Italy sent 1,500 to aid with the airlift — are due to take the last flight.
“In the next few hours the last C-130 will leave Kabul airport,” Di Maio told a press conference in Rome with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
On board will be Italian consul Tommaso Claudi as nicely as Stefano Pontecorvo, the Italian diplomat serving as NATO’s senior civil representative to Afghanistan.
“Leaving Kabul with a heavy heart. My gratitude to all #NATO allies & partners for a massive evacuation effort from #Afghanistan despite all challenges,” Pontecorvo tweeted.
Leaving Kabul with a heavy heart. My gratitude to all #NATO Allies & Partners for a enormous evacuation work from #Afghanistan regardless of all challenges. NATO played a crucial part in acquiring thousands out and is committed to acquiring other folks to security. 🙏 to #Italy 🇮🇹 for flying us out. pic.twitter.com/NcWH3z20hE
— Stefano Pontecorvo (@pontecorvoste) August 27, 2021
“NATO played a key role in getting thousands out and is committed to getting others to safety.”
Afghans and foreign nationals have been racing to leave Afghanistan because the Taliban seized manage.
The substantial crowds waiting to be evacuated have been the target of twin suicide bombs outdoors Kabul airport on Thursday that killed at least 85 men and women, like 13 US troops.
During his stop by to Rome Friday, Lavrov also met with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
They discussed the value of guaranteeing stability and safety in Afghanistan, tackling the humanitarian emergency and guaranteeing respect for human rights, specifically these of girls, Draghi’s workplace stated.