Over 40 flights from Kabul flew to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan when Taliban were entering

Moscow, Aug 16 (IANS) More than 40 passenger flights took off on Sunday evening from Kabul to neighbouring Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the Tolo news television channel reported on Monday.

According to Tolo news, 18 passenger planes took off from Kabul to Tajikistan while 28 flights landed in Uzbekistan's southernmost city of Termez on Sunday evening when Taliban fighters were entering the Afghan capital.

Most of the passengers were Afghan nationals, including airport and aviation sector employees, the TV channel said.

Afghanistan's ambassador to Tajikistan welcomed the planes arriving from Kabul.

After the US announced the end of an armed operation in Afghanistan and began to withdraw its troops from that country, the Taliban launched a large-scale offensive on the government army and by August 15, they entered Kabul without facing any resistance. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has fled the country.