Spain working to evacuate ‘as many as possible’ from Afghanistan: PM

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Refugees queue on the tarmac after disembarking from an evacuation flight from Kabul, at the Torrejon de Ardoz air base, 30 km from Madrid, on August 24, 2021. – Spain has been evacuating its nationals and local contractors from Afghanistan via Dubai since the Taliban swept to power ten days ago. Another 420 people are expected to arrive in Spain on August 24, 2021, including 290 people from Dubai and 130 who are expected to leave on a Spanish military plane from Kabul. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP)

MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday condemned the deadly attack outside Kabul airport and said Madrid was working to “evacuate as many people as possible” out of Afghanistan.

“Spain strongly condemns the attack suffered today at the Kabul airport. Our heartfelt solidarity with the victims,” he said in a tweet.

“The international community stands with the Afghan people, ensuring their rights and dignity. We are working to evacuate as many people as possible,” he added.

Two powerful explosions outside Kabul airport killed as many as 20 people Thursday, as an August 31 deadline looms for the United States to withdraw its troops.

While other European nations such as Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium have announced the end of their efforts to evacuate Afghans, Spain’s operation is continuing.

Madrid is using military planes to airlift local contractors and their families from Afghanistan to Dubai. They are then taken to Spain on commercial aircraft.

Spain has so far evacuated 1,584 people from Afghanistan, including 631 minors, according to migration ministry figures.

© Agence France-Presse