ESD 14:36:31 16-09-2021
ZH1439ES.111
111 MILITARY - AFGHANISTAN - EVACUATIONS - OPERATION

Afghan Citizens Who Worked for Bulgaria
Successfully Evacuated
to This Country


Sofia, September 16 (BTA) - Afghan citizens who worked for the Republic of Bulgaria during NATO operations in Afghanistan, as well as a Bulgarian citizen and his family, have been successfully evacuated to Bulgaria, the Defence Ministry reported here on Friday.

The operation was organized and carried out by the Defence Intelligence Service on caretaker Prime Minister Stefan Yanev's instructions, under Defence Minister Georgi Panayotov's direct leadership and in cooperation with Foreign Minister Svetlan Stoev. Bulgaria's Ambassador to Pakistan Irena Gancheva and representatives of the inter-institutional working group, who organized the visit, accommodation and transportation of the Afghan citizens to Bulgaria, have also contributed to the successful evacuation.

Minister Panayotov was on board the aircraft that was flown from Islamabad to Sofia by the state aviation operator.

During his visit to Pakistan, the Bulgarian Defence Minister has conferred with his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Khattak. The two discussed the opportunities for developing bilateral cooperation in the area of defence, maintaining the established good dialogue on security matters, opportunities for training and military technical cooperation, as well as the development of other areas of mutual interest.

The two have exchanged views about the latest developments of the situation in Afghanistan and the challenges for the region's stability.

On the delegation, lead by Minister Panayotov, were also Deputy Chief of Defence Lt Gen Tsanko Stoykov and experts from the ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs. MT/MY