Ethnic Kazakhs evacuated from Afghanistan to Kazakhstan

35 ethnic Kazakhs were evacuated from Afghanistan to Kazakhstan. Their return to the historical homeland was organized on behalf of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. A special plane of the Kazakh Defense Ministry arrived from Kabul to the Almaty airport. The passengers will be temporarily isolated for quarantine procedures. The flight was coordinated with the Taliban movement, according to Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Now, the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Kabul is operating in normal mode and maintains contact with other Kandas people – ethnic Kazakhs living in Afghanistan. The work is underway to confirm their ethnicity.

“The first plane with ethnic Kazakhs arrived in Almaty today. We are acting on behalf of the Head of State. This is a joint work of employees of the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Kabul,” said Magauiya Sarbassov, Vice President of ‘Otandastar’ Foundation.

“I am grateful to all those who helped me return to my historical homeland. First of all, I would like to thank Kazakh President, representatives of the Embassy of Kazakhstan and journalists. I arrived with my mother, three sisters and two brothers. My wife couldn’t fly, because she hasn’t a passport,” shared a kandas Khassan Derman.

Translation by Saule Mukhamejanova

Editing by Galiya Khassenkhanova