Air force flight lands in Kabul to evacuate Indians

A special flight operated by the Indian Air Force just landed in Kabul to bring back stranded Indians, including embassy staff, according to people familiar with the developments.

Afghanistan has closed its airspace for civilian flights but military evacuations are being carried out with the help of US forces still stationed at the Kabul airport.

The special flight circumvented Pakistani airspace and flew over Iran. A month ago, when a similar flight brought back officials from the Indian consulate in Kandahar, Pakistan had not given over flight permission.

Meanwhile, at least five people were killed at the airport on Monday as hundreds of people stormed into the area to board planes leaving the Afghan capital, news agency Reuters reported citing eyewitnesses.