The USA has decided to put on hold the option of accommodating the Afghans and other foreigners at Karachi and Lahore airports being evacuated from Kabul after the Taliban takeover, and said for the time being they will be made to stay at Islamabad international airport, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday while quoting its sources in the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

According to the sources, Karachi and Lahore airports have been put on standby. They further said the decision to drop the idea of hosting transit passengers at Karachi airport was taken due to security concerns.

The sources further disclosed that the USA had also considerably reduced the number of transit passengers being airlifted from Kabul to their onward journey to different countries of the world. Apart from that, they added, these passengers will leave Pakistan for their next destinations within hours. And they would be shifted to Islamabad’s hotels only if deemed extremely necessary, they told 24News.

The Sindh government has also been informed of this change in the USA government’s plan.

Meanwhile, the evacuation of transit passengers who have reached Islamabad from Kabul in recent days continues.

Two flights left Islamabad airport for Ukraine on Saturday with 299 passengers on board.

Reporter Usman Javed