Kabul airport suicide bombing derails animal evacuation

A suicide bombing at Kabul airport that killed dozens of people has derailed a campaign to evacuate hundreds of rescue cats and dogs from Afghanistan.

A suicide bombing at Kabul airport that killed dozens of Afghan citizens and members of the US military has derailed a former British Royal Marine’s campaign to evacuate hundreds of rescue cats and dogs from Afghanistan.

Paul “Pen” Farthing has vowed not to leave Afghanistan without his 200 rescue animals and about 68 staff members at his Nowzad shelter, which he founded in Kabul after serving with the British army in the mid-2000s.

A privately chartered Airbus A330 – funded by donations – had been on standby to fly to from the UK’s Luton Airport to rescue the group’s workers and animals, but was cancelled amid safety concerns after twin explosions erupted on Thursday (local time) outside Hamid Karzai International Airport.

The airport is the only part of Afghanistan still under foreign control following the Taliban’s return to power on August 15. The blasts killed 13 members of the US military and dozens of civilians who had gathered in the hopes of being evacuated along with the foreigns.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, which saw suicide bombers target crowds of people gathered outside the airport hoping to flee the country.

Paul “Pen” Farthing, founder of animal rescue charity Nowzad. Picture: Nowzad/PA Wire

At least 200 cats and dogs have been rescued by the charity. Picture: Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images

Mr Farthing has vowed not to leave Afghanistan without his 200 rescue animals and about 68 staff members at his Nowzad shelter. Picture: The Sun/News Licensing/MEGA

A plane from a country neighbouring Afghanistan will now be used instead for ‘Operation Ark’.

“We have an option in place in a neighbouring country to lift Pen, his staff and animals out of Kabul before transferring them to the UK,” wildlife campaigner and broadcaster Dominic Dyer told the BBC, saying the volatile situation in Kabul meant the original evacuation plan was “too dangerous”.

Mr Farthing tweeted at Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen on early Thursday asking for safe passage to the airport, saying that he and his convoy had been held up outside Kabul airport for 10 hours.

“Dear Sir; my team & my animals are stuck at airport circle. We have a flight waiting. Can you please facilitate safe passage into the airport for our convoy? @suhailshaheen1 We are an NGO who will come back to Afghanistan but right now I want to get everyone out safely,” he wrote.

Dear Sir; my team & my animals are stuck at airport circle. We have a flight waiting. Can you please facilitate safe passage into the airport for our convoy? @suhailshaheen1 We are an NGO who will come back to Afghanistan but right now I want to get everyone out safely. 🙏🏼

— Pen Farthing (@PenFarthing) August 26, 2021

Boris Johnson get @PenFarthing his people & animals in Kabul airport now before lives of people & animals are put under threat. We have a plane leaving today to rescue them which you have committed to allowing us to land @ZacGoldsmith@carrielbjohnson@BWallaceMP#OperationArkpic.twitter.com/OC5Abr8CZQ

— dominic dyer (@domdyer70) August 26, 2021

Mr Farthing told the BBC that “all hell broke loose at the airport circle which is where I was” in the wake of the bombings, and that US President Joe Biden had “stopped” his attempt to get the animals out of the country.

“There’s nothing I can do. The staff are telling me it’s time for me to go. They don’t think a foreigner will be welcome here,” he said.

“Staff have asked me to take as many dogs and cats as I can. But now I can’t get them past the Taliban check points.”

Earlier this week, the UK’s Defence Secretary Ben Wallace complained that dealing with Mr Farthing’s evacuation had been a distraction from the main evacuation effort.

On a conference call with MPs on Wednesday, Mr Wallace said that the case meant the military had been “diverted” from their primary focus on saving people.

“What I was not prepared to do is prioritise pets over people,” he reportedly told the MPs. “I’m afraid you may dislike me for that but that’s my view. There are some very, very desperate people under threat.”

Family members visit wounded patients who have been admitted into Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. Picture: Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times

A patient is brought by a taxi to hospital after two bombings struck near the entrance of Kabul airport. Picture: Marcus Yam/Los Angeles Times

Later clarifying the comments, Mr Wallace tweeted that he “never said I would not facilitate. I said no one would get to queue jump. As I have said, we will facilitate at all stages but the priority will be people not pets.”

“The issue, as those desperate people waiting outside the gates know too well, has always been getting processed through the entrances. It can take over 24hrs. There is no point turning up with a plane until the passengers/pets are airside,” he added.

“So can people now please let my civil servants and military get on with dealing with one of the most dangerous and challenging evacuations for a generation. As professionals they will do their best for all those eligible and with my full support.”

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been among the world leaders to condemn the attack, calling those responsible “despicable”.

“We extend our condolences both to the United States of America and the people of Afghanistan,” he said.

Mr Johnson said the British would continue with their evacuation, which is said to be near its end. The UK Ministry of Defence said there had been “no reported UK military or UK government casualties”.

“UK forces are working closely with our partners to provide security and medical assistance,” it added.