Ariana currently has two working planes in its fleet
By Ian McWilliam
BBC correspondent in Kabul
Afghanistan's national airline, Ariana, has resumed flights between the
Afghan capital, Kabul and Islamabad, the capital of neighbouring Pakistan.
Diplomatic relations between Islamabad and the interim government in Kabul
had been wary, at best
Sunday morning saw the first general passenger flight between the two
countries since Ariana stopped flying to Pakistan under the Taleban. The
Pakistani airline, PIA, is also due to begin flights between the two capitals
shortly. The resumption of flights will re-establish an important link
between the two neighbours and is another indication that Afghanistan is
rebuilding its ties with the outside world after years of isolation.
Commercial ties Diplomatic relations between Islamabad and the interim
government in Kabul had been wary, at best. But some two million Afghan
refugees still live in Pakistan and there are significant trade and business
ties between the two countries. The head of Ariana Airlines, Jahed Azimi,
says he also expects business from foreigners working for the many
international organisations which have been moving into Kabul. The flight
will cost $200 for a one-way ticket. Ariana Airlines has been coming to life
since the lifting of United Nations sanctions which had banned all
international flights from Afghanistan in the last years of the Taleban. The
sanctions were removed in February after the Taleban's collapse. New planes
Not long ago, Ariana was down to only one working aeroplane, but with the
recent purchase of a Boeing 727 from American Airlines, it has doubled its
fleet. India's announcement that it is to give the Afghan airline three
European Airbuses will be another major boost. Internationally, Ariana
already flies to Delhi and the United Arab Emirates. It has only one domestic
route to the western city of Herat, but Captain Azimi says he hopes Ariana
planes will link all of Afghanistan's main cities once the regional airports
are upgraded and when the routes are considered commercially viable.
Leo/ORD