The Transportation Operation Process as Described by a Government Official

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The number of families of Afghan collaborators expected to come to Korea is 76 households, and it is known that about half of them include children under the age of 10.

On the 26th, Kim Man-ki, Director of Defense Policy at the Ministry of National Defense, said in a phone interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "There are about 70 Afghan families coming to Korea this time," adding, "There are about 100 infants and toddlers, and about 80 children aged 6 to 10."

Although the total number of Afghan collaborators is 391, the military transport plane (KC-300) that took 378 people in the first phase this afternoon and departed from Islamabad Airport in Pakistan early this morning is expected to arrive at Incheon Airport this afternoon.

Director Kim said, "Many people are boarding the KC-330 (multi-purpose aerial refueling transport aircraft) today as well," and added, "(To prevent separation) families are carrying infants and toddlers." It is known that two C-130 transport planes staying in Pakistan have not yet departed.

It was reported that difficulties were encountered in gathering Afghan collaborators and their families at Kabul Airport in Afghanistan.

Park Soo-hyun, Senior Secretary for Public Communication at the Blue House, also explained the overall process of the Afghan domestic transfer operation plan prepared since early this month in a phone interview with TBS Radio's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory.'

Senior Secretary Park said that the government secured six buses locally to transport Afghans, passed through Taliban checkpoints, and arrived at Kabul Airport, stating, "We paid the most attention to that part and made many preparations."

He mentioned that when the Taliban set up checkpoints to block Afghans' access to Kabul Airport, only 26 people arrived when locals were initially asked to walk to the airport.

He continued, "Fortunately, the method found was to cooperate with the U.S., which had trade relations with Afghanistan, and the U.S. military rode the buses to move," explaining, "Buses were scattered throughout the city, and fortunately, we maintained good contact networks so that locals could gather where the buses were."

He added, "This new method was discovered and implemented mainly by our embassy staff on the ground," and said, "Personally, looking at the entire operation, I also think that the process of sending buses to transport locals to the airport was decisive."

When asked if the buses carrying locals were stopped at Taliban checkpoints, he replied, "I understand that these buses were negotiable or agreed upon between the U.S. military and the Taliban, and were allowed locally," adding, "We need to hear more details after they arrive, but it can be considered that U.S. assistance was significant."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.