The reopening of Afghanistan’s Ariana airline has allowed the resumption of Haj flights to Saudi Arabia, and hundreds of pilgrims have been flocking to Kabul’s airport, eager to carry out the important religious duty. However, many flights to Saudi Arabia have been postponed and delayed, forcing many expectant pilgrims to stay overnight in the freezing cold outdoor conditions at Afghanistan’s airport, which has very poor facilities.
On Thursday, Haj pilgrims who had been stranded at the airport for as much as two full days were volatile. An airline employee told CNN that about 1,400 people held bookings and tickets for two flights that had been delayed. The employee said that as the hours passed and delays mounted, the crowd became “very, very upset."
In this state of tension, the pilgrims noticed an Arian Airlines Boeing 727 preparing to depart. The plane was making a flight to New Delhi, carrying some twenty passengers in addition to the Minister for Tourism and Aviation, Dr. Abdul Rahman. The pilgrims were incensed that the plane was not being used to carry them to Saudi Arabia instead, and blocked its path, preventing the craft from taking off.
The standoff lasted several hours, and ended violently. While some sources say that the pilgrims stormed the plane, others insist that Dr. Abdul Rahman left the aircraft of his own will in an attempt to reason with the pilgrims. What seems clear is that the angry pilgrims managed to seize the Minister, and proceeded to swiftly beat him to death, tossing his mangled body onto the tarmac.
The mob then turned on the Ariana Airlines employees, beeting at least ten of them, according to AP reports. Ariana president Rohullah Aman was also attacked, and taken to hospital in severe condition by the foreign military forces who were present at the scene, according to CNN.
Reaction to the incident underscored how shaky the new Afghan government’s position is. Although the authorities made statements of sorrow and of outrage, no arrests were made. Instead, according to CNN and Reuters reports, the flights for the Haj pilgrims were expedited, and within hours most of the pilgrims who had been part of the murderous mob were flown to Saudi Arabia to proceed with their Haj. Meanwhile, the flight to India which the Minter had been on was canceled.
Thursday’s incident underscores how great the problems facing Afghanistan are. It is clear that Afghanistan has a long way to go before some measure of stability is returned to the war-torn society. (www.albawaba.com)
