French Foreign Ministry Says Evacuated Over 300 People From Afghanistan

PARIS (Sputnik) - The French Foreign Ministry has said that it's evacuated nearly 260 Afghans, 11 French citizens, and about 60 Dutch nationals from Afghanistan, with the assistance of Qatar.

The evacuation flight was organised on Friday with the assistance of Qatar. The plane arrived in Doha from Kabul, and next week, the evacuees will be airlifted to France.

"The aircraft chartered by the Foreign Ministry evacuated 258 Afghans... Eleven French people, about 60 Dutch people and their relatives were also evacuated by the flight", the ministry said in a statement.

The Afghans that left the country were under threat for their activities, the French agency said, citing journalists and those who had cooperated with the French authorities.

The Taliban* movement returned to power in Afghanistan on 15 August, following weeks of successful advance towards Kabul facing little to no resistance. In early September, the Taliban leadership announced the composition of an interim government. Thousands of Afghans attempted to flee their homeland fearful of Taliban cruelties and rampant violations of human rights.

*The Taliban movement is under UN sanctions over terrorist activities.