Kabul International Airport is located about five kilometres (3 mi) from the center of Kabul in Afghanistan. It is owned by the Government of Afghanistan and operated by UAE-based GAAC Holding on behalf of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation. It serves as one of the nation's main international airports, capable of housing over one hundred aircraft. It was locally named as Khwaja Rawash Airport. The airport was renamed in 2014 in honor of former President Hamid Karzai. The decision was made by the National Assembly of Afghanistan and the Cabinet of the then President Ashraf Ghani. It was given its current name in 2021 by the Taliban.
Afghan refugees are citizens of Afghanistan who were forced to flee their country as a result of wars, persecution, torture or genocide. The 1978 Saur Revolution followed by the 1979 Soviet invasion marked the first major wave of internal displacement and international migration to neighboring Iran and Pakistan; smaller numbers also went to India or to countries of the former Soviet Union. Between 1979 and 1992, more than 20% of Afghanistan's population fled the country as refugees. Following the Soviet withdrawal in 1989, many returned to Afghanistan, however many Afghans were again forced to flee during the civil war in the 90s. Over 6 million Afghan refugees were residing in Iran and Pakistan by 2000. Most refugees returned to Afghanistan following the 2001 United States invasion and overthrow of the Taliban regime. Between 2002 and 2012, 5.7 million refugees returned to Afghanistan, increasing the country's population by 25%.
Relations between Afghanistan and the United States began in 1921 under the leaderships of King Amanullah Khan and President Warren G. Harding, respectively. The first contact between the two nations occurred further back in the 1830s when the first recorded person from the United States explored Afghanistan. The United States government foreign aid program provided about $500 million in aid for economic development; the aid ended before the 1978 Saur Revolution. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 was a turning point in the Cold War, when the United States started to financially support the Afghan resistance. The country, under both the Carter and Reagan administrations committed $3 billion dollars in financial and diplomatic support to the anti-Soviet Mujahideen forces. Beginning in 1980, the United States began admitting thousands of Afghan refugees for resettlement, and provided money and weapons to the Mujahideen through Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The USSR withdrew its troops in 1989.
Afghan passports are international travel documents issued by the General Directorate of Passports to nationals and citizens of Afghanistan. Every person with a valid Afghan identity card (Tazkira) can apply for and receive an Afghan passport, which is renewable every 5–10 years.
Afghanistan–India relations are the diplomatic relations between India and Afghanistan. They had been historical neighbors and shared cultural ties through Bollywood and cricket.
The Embassy of the United States of America in Kabul was the official diplomatic mission of the United States of America to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The embassy was housed in a chancery located on Great Massoud Road in the Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood of the Afghan capital, Kabul, and was built at a cost of nearly $800 million. On August 15, 2021, in the face of a Taliban advance on Kabul, embassy staff relocated to makeshift but secure facilities at Hamid Karzai International Airport. Kabul fell and the chancery building officially closed late August 15th.
Afghanistan and Indonesia established diplomatic relations on 20 May 1950. The relationship is mostly founded on common religious solidarity, as Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim majority country, and Afghanistan is also a Muslim majority country. Indonesia has expressed its commitment to support and assist the rebuilding of Post-Taliban Afghanistan in various sectors, including technical training, infrastructure, women's empowerment, higher education, and diplomat training. Indonesia has an embassy in Kabul, while Afghanistan has an embassy in Jakarta. Both nations are full members of Non-Aligned Movement and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
2021 (MMXXI) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2021st year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 21st year of the 3rd millennium and the 21st century, and the 2nd year of the 2020s decade.
The United States Armed Forces completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan on 30 August 2021, marking the end of the 2001–2021 war. In February 2020, the Trump administration and the Taliban signed the United States–Taliban deal in Doha, Qatar, which stipulated fighting restrictions for both the US and the Taliban, and provided for the withdrawal of all NATO forces from Afghanistan in return for the Taliban's counter-terrorism commitments. The deal, and then the Biden administration's final decision in April 2021 to pull out all US troops by September 2021 without leaving a residual force, were the two critical events that triggered the start of the collapse of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). Following the deal, the US dramatically reduced the number of air attacks on the Taliban at the detriment the ANSF fighting the Taliban insurgency, leading to the Taliban takeover of Kabul on 15 August 2021.
The Embassy of the United Kingdom in Kabul was the United Kingdom's diplomatic mission to Afghanistan. The British first established a diplomatic mission, a legation, in 1922 after the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919. The Viceroy of India George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston ordered that a large and opulent compound be constructed and this was completed in 1927. The legation was withdrawn in the Kabul Airlift as a result of the 1928-29 civil war but was re-established in 1930. The legation became an embassy in 1948 but this was withdrawn in 1989 following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. The embassy compound was handed over to Pakistan in 1994. Following the 2001 United States invasion of Afghanistan an embassy was re-established at a new site in the Wazir Akbar Khan District. The embassy, on the edge of Kabul's secure zone, was considered vulnerable to attack in 2018 and consideration was given to a new site, but did not proceed. Following the start of the 2021 withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan there has been speculation that the embassy might close.
The 2021 Taliban offensive was a military offensive by the Taliban insurgent group and allied militants led to the fall of the Kabul-based Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the end of the nearly 20-year War in Afghanistan that had begun following the United States invasion of the country. The Taliban victory had widespread domestic and international ramifications regarding human rights and proliferation of terrorism. The offensive included a continuation of the bottom-up succession of negotiated or paid surrenders to the Taliban from the village level upwards that started following the February 2020 US–Taliban deal.
Operation Allies Refuge was an evacuation effort carried out by the United States during the 2021 Taliban offensive. It took place in the final weeks of the War in Afghanistan and saw the airlifting of certain at-risk Afghan civilians, employees of the American embassy in Kabul, and other prospective applicants for the U.S. Special Immigrant Visa (SIV). American personnel also helped NATO and other regional allies in their respective evacuation efforts from Hamid Karzai International Airport in the capital city of Kabul. The operation was concurrent with the broader American military withdrawal from Afghanistan and the multinational evacuation of eligible foreigners and vulnerable Afghans.
Operation Pitting was a British military operation to evacuate British nationals and eligible Afghans from Afghanistan following the 2021 Taliban offensive. The operation consisted of more than 1,000 military personnel, including soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade. It ran concurrently with the evacuation efforts of numerous other countries.
On 15 August 2021, Afghanistan's capital city of Kabul was captured by the Taliban after a major insurgent offensive that began in May 2021. It was the final action of the War in Afghanistan, and marked a total victory for the Taliban. This led to the overthrowing of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan under President Ashraf Ghani and the reinstatement of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan under the control of the Taliban.
Protests in Afghanistan against the Taliban started on 17 August 2021 following the Fall of Kabul to the Taliban. These protests are held by Islamic democrats and feminists. Both groups are against the treatment of women by the Taliban government, considering it as discriminatory and misogynistic. Supported by the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, the protesters also demand decentralization, multiculturalism, social justice, work, education, and food. There have been pro-Taliban counterprotests.
The Taliban has ruled Afghanistan as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan since taking control by force in 2021, overthrowing the internationally recognized Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The takeover was widely criticized by the international community, and no countries have extended diplomatic recognition to the new regime, despite nominally maintaining relations with Afghanistan. The Taliban has campaigned for international recognition since the takeover. Several countries have vowed never to recognize the Islamic Emirate, and others have said they will do so only if human rights in the country are respected. Some countries have accredited Taliban diplomats at the chargé d'affaires level despite not recognizing the Islamic Emirate. In September 2023, China became the first country to formally name a new ambassador to the country since the takeover, even though China still does not formally recognize the Taliban.
Large-scale evacuations of foreign citizens and some vulnerable Afghan citizens took place amid the withdrawal of US and NATO forces at the end of the 2001–2021 war in Afghanistan. The Taliban took control of Kabul and declared victory on 15 August 2021, and the NATO-backed Islamic Republic of Afghanistan collapsed. With the Taliban controlling the whole city except Hamid Karzai International Airport, hostilities ceased and the Taliban assisted in the evacuation effort by providing security and screening evacuees.
The war in Afghanistan ended with the Taliban victorious when the United States withdrew its troops from Afghanistan. The aftermath has been characterized by marked change in the social and political order of Afghanistan as Taliban took over the country once again after the fall of Kabul in 2021.
The 20-year-long War in Afghanistan had a number of significant impacts on Afghan society.
South Africa: The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) stated that contact had been established with South African nationals stranded in Afghanistan through the South African High Commission to Pakistan, which is also responsible for diplomatic relations with Afghanistan, and that efforts to ensure their safety and provide consular assistance were underway. The South African government expressed concern at the plight of the thousands of Afghans displaced by the worsening security situation and called on "the authority in power to ensure that the rule of law, human rights and the safety of all Afghans and foreign nationals alike are protected", further calling on "all military and security groups" to exercise restraint and seek negotiations aimed at the restoration of stability and a legitimate government. [17] 
Uganda: Kampala announced that they are willing to accept 2,000 Afghan refugees. [18] 
Argentina: The Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on all parties to restore order and open dialogue while urging the Taliban to respect human rights. The Foreign Ministry also urged the Taliban to allow those wishing to leave Afghanistan to do so and for humanitarian aid to reach the population. [19] 
Bolivia: The Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its concern over the latest events in Afghanistan, calling on all parties to avoid all kinds of aggression against the people and to protect the lives of civilians above all else, as well as to seek peaceful solutions to differences. The Bolivian government urges the new authorities in Afghanistan to protect the lives of those who live in its territory, restoring security and civil order, but always respecting international human rights law, as well as international humanitarian law. [20] 
Brazil: The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern about the growing instability not only in Afghanistan but in the whole Central Asian region. The country called for a rapid engagement of the UN Security Council, expressing total support for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). [21] 
Canada: The Canadian government announced that it would be suspending its embassy operations in Afghanistan. [22] An undisclosed number of soldiers from Canadian Special Operations Forces Command were dispatched to assist with the evacuation and closure of the embassy. [23] The Canadian Armed Forces also dispatched two C-130 Hercules and a C-17 Globemaster III to Kuwait to assist with the evacuations. [24] The Canadian government stated it would take in up to 20,000 Afghan refugees facing threats from the Taliban. [25] 
Chile: The Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs promotes and supports the declarations of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean, in which the importance "of the urgent protection of the human rights of women and girls in Afghanistan" is mentioned. [26] In turn, the Chilean government announced that it will receive in its territory at least 10 Afghan families that are mainly made up of women human rights defenders. [27] 
Paraguay: The Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a joint declaration with twenty other countries in support of the defense of the main human rights in Afghanistan. The document expresses "deep concern" for the right to education, the right to work and the right to freedom of movement of Afghan women and girls. [28] Likewise, the Senate of Paraguay met to approve a draft declaration, in which the violence originating from Taliban men in Afghanistan has been “strongly” condemned. The Paraguayan senators called on all nations of the world to show their willingness to receive Afghan refugees and to stop any deportation. [29] [30] 
United States: US President Joe Biden stated that the continuing presence of American troops in Afghanistan "would not have made a difference" if the Afghan military was unable to maintain control of the country. [31] 
Uruguay: The Ministry of Foreign Relations expressed concern about "the rapid deterioration of the situation in Afghanistan", and called on all parties to respect "strictly and completely the obligations of international humanitarian law", and the political actors to respect "the necessary efforts to guarantee the respect and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of the entire Afghan population". [32] 
China: "The disaster in Afghanistan was caused by the US and its allies," said the Chinese state-run Global Times . The Communist Party People's Daily flatteringly credited the Taliban's victory to its supposed adoption of Mao Zedong's "people's war" tactic: rallying the support of the rural population, while drawing the enemy deep into the countryside. [33] 
India: India evacuated its ambassador and diplomatic staff from its Embassy in Kabul. The Indian government also made arrangements for bringing back its nationals. [34] 
Indonesia: The Indonesian government stated they are monitoring the situation in Afghanistan and stated readiness to evacuate from Afghanistan if needed. [35] The Indonesian Embassy in Kabul would be maintained. [36] On 20 August 2021, Indonesian Air Force evacuated 26 of its citizens. [37] 
Iran: President Ebrahim Raisi said "American military defeat and its withdrawal must become an opportunity to restore life, security and durable peace in Afghanistan. Iran backs efforts to restore stability in Afghanistan and, as a neighbouring and brother nation, Iran invites all groups in Afghanistan to reach a national agreement." [38] 
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein stressed, on August 24, that the issue of Baghdad's recognition of the Afghan Taliban movement is "premature", while he spoke about Iraq's fears that the Taliban's movements might inspire the rest of the terrorist organizations to operate in the region. On the issue of evacuating Iraqi citizens, he said "We do not have diplomats and we do not have an Iraq community in Afghanistan". [39] 
Japan: The Japanese Ministry of Defense announced the dispatching of one Kawasaki C-2 from Miho Air Base on 23 August and two C-130s from Komaki Base on 24 August to evacuate Japanese and Afghan staff members working in the Japanese Embassy. [40] [41] Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said that the dispatch was made under Article 84 of the Self-Defense Forces Law. [41] JGSDF and JASDF personnel heading to Afghanistan would be allowed to use small arms to defend themselves under the SDF Law due to the security situation in Kabul. [40] Most of their diplomats were evacuated on 15 August to Turkey. [42] On 26 August 2021, a Boeing 777-300ER under the Japanese Air Force One callsign was dispatched to Islamabad to prepare to evacuate refugees. [43] By 27 August 2021, 1 Japanese nationals and 14 Afghan nationals were successfully evacuated, but none of the local staff members were able to be evacuated. [44] 
Kazakhstan: The Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the embassy would continue operating in Kabul, noting that a small number of staff work at the embassy. [45] President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that Kazakhstan would closely follow the development of events in Afghanistan and that measures would take place to ensure the safety of its citizens and diplomats within the country. [46] 
Malaysia: The Malaysian High Commission in India (which is accredited to Afghanistan) has urged citizens remaining in Afghanistan to register with them and return to Malaysia. The High Commission also confirmed that it had helped a Malaysian national return home earlier in August. It also confirmed that two other Malaysian nationals working for an international relief organisation had opted to remain in Kabul. [47] 
Nepal: Nepal has pleaded countries which had a diplomatic presence in Afghanistan to assist it in repatriating its citizens from that country. [48] 
Pakistan: Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the Afghans had broken the "shackles of slavery" while explaining how Pakistani people had adopted the western culture over their own culture. [49] [50] [51] In an interview to CNN, Imran Khan said "It could go to chaos" [52] referring to the situation in Afghanistan adding that "World should give Taliban time on the human rights." Commenting further on the woman's rights he said: "The best way forward for the peace and stability is to engage with the Taliban and incentivise them on issues such as women's rights and inclusive government. Afghan women are strong so give them time they will get their rights." [53] [54] [55] Imran khan also showed concern over the refugees pouring into the Pakistan as a result of chaos in Afghanistan and said "We can not take anymore refugees, there are already more than 3 million refugees in Pakistan". [56] Pakistan International Airline played vital role at Kabul International Airport by evacuating about 1400 people as of August 14, including diplomats, foreign media and Afghan journalists and staff of international organisations which were stuck after the Taliban takeover. [57] [58] [59] Pakistan Air force also sent 3 C130 cargo planes containing humanitarian aid to reduce the food and medical supply shortage faced by the people of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. [60] Pakistan Intelligence Agency's (ISI) chief Faiz Hameed visited Kabul and met with Taliban leadership as well as other Afghan leaders including former prime minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. The meeting was seen as an unconventional means of contact between the two countries in the absence of a government in Afghanistan. [61] The visit was purportedly to get berths for the Haqqanis in the new Government, demonstrating their, "clout" over the Taliban. [62] According to the Carnegie Endowment Center, the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate shares an undeniable link with the Taliban, especially the Haqqani group. [63] Hameed later held a meeting in Islamabad with his counterparts from Russia, China, Tajikistan and other Central Asian countries to discuss the situation of Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. [64] [65] Commercial flights to Kabul are also temporarily halted by the Pakistan International Airline. [66] At the SCO summit, Imran Khan said "The Taliban must fulfil the pledges made, above all for an inclusive political structure where all ethnic groups are represented. This is vital for Afghanistan's stability", adding regarding the economic condition in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover, he said "We must remember that the previous government depended heavily on foreign aid and its removal could lead to economic collapse" [67] [68] [69] [70] 
Philippines: The Philippines began repatriating its citizens on a mandatory basis from Afghanistan. [71] It also pledged that it would accept refugees from Afghanistan. [72] 
Singapore: Singapore had sent its Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft to transport evacues from Qatar to Germany on 26 August, [73] after offering it during a state visit by US Vice President Kamala Harris on 23 August. [74] 
Tajikistan: President Emomali Rahmon said that he will not recognize a Taliban-led government if it ignores the interests of various ethnic minorities, including Afghan Tajiks. [75] 
Turkey: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that "Turkey was in talks with all parties in Afghanistan, including the Taliban", and "views positively the messages the Islamist militants have sent since taking control of the country". The Ministry also said that the Turkish embassy in Kabul would continue to function and is not expected to close. [76] 
Uzbekistan: The Uzbek government said that its embassy would continue working in Afghanistan with no plans in evacuating its ambassadors and that it would instead negotiate both with the remaining Afghan government and Taliban on the issues of refugees. [77] 
Austria: Austrian foreign minister, Alexander Schallenberg, warned that "conflict and instability in the region will sooner or later spill over to Europe". [31] 
Denmark: Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said that Denmark would decide to temporarily close its embassy in Afghanistan, and that the situation in Kabul was serious, and that it would make an extra effort for those who have stood side by side with Denmark. [79] 
Estonia: On 17 August, Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that "the chaos in Afghanistan continues to shock the democratic world" and indicated that the country was prepared to offer asylum to ten people. [80] On 19 August, the Estonian government increased the number of refugees it was willing to take in to 30. [81] 
Finland: According to Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto, the Finnish Embassy in Kabul has been closed and all of its Finnish staff evacuated from Afghanistan. [82] In Mid August 2021 Finland has reduced its development cooperation funding to Afghanistan and continues support through the UN, international organizations, and civil society groups due to the Taliban's takeover. [83] 
France: The French government announced that it would be holding an emergency defence council meeting on 16 August presided by President Emmanuel Macron to address the situation. [84] Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian stated with the rapid deterioration of the situation in the country, the Ministry decided to move their embassy to Kabul airport, in order to proceed with the evacuation of the totality of French diplomats in the city. [85] The Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly by the demand of the French President Emmanuel Macron, sent a C130J and A400M of the French Air and Space Force to conduct the evacuation, with support of the French military based in the United Arab Emirates at Camp de la Paix.
Ireland: The Taoiseach Micheál Martin stated on 16 August that he found the situation in Afghanistan "deeply worrying". He stated his support for a statement made by the UN secretary general which asked for restraint from the Taliban and stressed himself the need for all sides of the conflict to follow international law. [86] 
Italy: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence sent C-130 and KC-767 aircraft of the Italian Air Force to proceed with the evacuation of Italian diplomats and citizens, along with many Afghan collaborators and their families. An envoy remained at Kabul Airport protected by Carabinieri and an airbridge had been arranged. [87] Within the Operation Aquila Omnia, 5,011 people were evacuated from the city of Kabul. [88] 
Norway: Norway announced that it is closing its embassy in Kabul and the Foreign Affairs Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide said that "there's been a major worsening of the security situation in Afghanistan that first and foremost affects the civilian population". [89] 
Romania: On 14 August, as the situation in Afghanistan worsened, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania urged all Romanian citizens in Afghanistan to "leave the country immediately" and to avoid any trip to Afghanistan. [90] Two days later, on 16 August, the Prime Minister of Romania Florin Cîțu said there were still 35 Romanian citizens in Afghanistan and that a plane would be sent to take them back to Romania. [91] 
Russia: The Russian embassy in Kabul stated that it would not evacuate or close the embassy, with a Taliban spokesperson guaranteeing the embassy's safety. [92] The Russian government further stated that talks were underway to hold an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting to discuss the situation. [93] On August 25, 2021, Moscow ordered the deployment of four military transport planes to evacuate Russians and citizens of Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. [94] Russian Diplomat Zamir Kabulov stated "We have prepared the ground for a conversation with the new government in Afghanistan in advance as an asset of Russian foreign policy [95] 
Spain: The Spanish government is preparing to evacuate the Afghans who worked for Spain's military and civilian operations and European Union missions. The Spanish Air Force already has an A400M transport plane ready to pick up the evacuees in Kabul as soon as the command is issued, which should come no later than 30 August. [96] The interior ministry will "process" any application for international protection made by Afghan translators and others who worked for Spanish forces after they arrive in Spain, rather than refugee status. [97] On 20 August, Prime Minister Sánchez offered Spain as the hub for Afghans who collaborated with EU, which would later be settled in various countries, [98] creating a temporary refugee camp in the air base of Torrejón de Ardoz. US President Joe Biden spoke with Sánchez to allow the use of the military bases of Rota and Morón to temporarily accommodate Afghan refugees, while praising "Spain's leadership in seeking international support for Afghan women and girls". [99] 
Sweden: Ann Linde, Swedish minister for foreign affairs, stated that the collapse of the Afghan government had "gone much faster than anyone had expected". [100] Public broadcaster Sveriges Radio further reported that the Swedish embassy was evacuating its staff. [101] 
Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that 80 people including Afghan citizens themselves whom applied for refugee status were evacuated from Afghanistan, citing that "Ukraine will always come to the aid of its citizens, no matter what happens in the world". [102] The ministry of foreign affairs urged any of the remaining Ukrainians who feel unsafe to contact the ministry or the embassies in the neighbouring countries of Tajikistan or Pakistan. [103] 
United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that he would be recalling parliament to debate the situation. [104] In the afternoon of 15 August, an emergency COBR meeting was held, followed by a public statement from Johnson where he stated that the situation was "extremely difficult" and that "we've known for a long time this was the way things would go". [105] Johnson further stated that the international community should not recognise the Taliban government and that it was necessary to "prevent Afghanistan lapsing back into being a breeding ground for terror". [106] 
Vatican City: Pope Francis expressed his concern over the conflict in Afghanistan and called for dialogue so that the "battered population" can live in peace. [107] 
Australia: The Australian government deployed 250 soldiers and three aircraft to aid in evacuations. However, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated that "despite our best efforts, I know that support won't reach all that it should" and Minister of Defence Peter Dutton stated that "we won't be landing aircraft into the airport until it's safe to do so". [108] Morrison, Dutton and Foreign Minister Marise Payne also called on the Taliban to "cease all violence against civilians and adhere to international humanitarian law and the human rights all Afghans are entitled to expect, in particular women and girls". [109] 
New Zealand: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and New Zealand Defence Force chief Air Marshal Kevin Short have announced that New Zealand would deploy 40 troops to evacuate 53 New Zealanders and 37 Afghans who had worked for the NZ military along with their nuclear families. [110] [111] [112] 
