Afghanistan's national airline Ariana Afghan Airlines has made its first international flight in nearly two-and-a-half years. The carrier's only Boeing 727 took off from Kabul for New Delhi after a worker climbed a mobile stairway and used a plastic jug to clean the windshield. International flights by Ariana were halted in October 1999 following the imposition of anti-Taliban sanctions by the United Nations. After the Soviet invasion in 1979, Ariana's operations to Western countries were effectively cancelled, and travel to Afghanistan dried up almost completely during the 1992-6 civil war. As Afghanistan grew increasingly isolated under Taliban rule, Ariana flew to only a few international destinations: Tajikistan, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The UN sanctions were lifted on January 13 by the Security Council. Pilots have told of the airline's planes being used by the Taliban to ferry weapons and leaders of al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden's terror network. Today's flight carried a crew of 12 plus 13 passengers, including Afghanistan tourism minister and the airline's president. Kabul's international airport, badly damaged during the US bombing campaign, reopened last week to international humanitarian and military flights, although much damage remains to be repaired. The plane landed safely in New Delhi, where passengers and crew were greeted with garlands of marigolds.