KARACHI: Pakistan evacuated 71 nationals from Lebanon and Syria on Wednesday, following the foreign office’s announcement of the plan a day earlier amid ongoing Israeli strikes in the region.
Israel has been actively targeting both Arab countries with a stated objective of dismantling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure by launching airstrikes in areas like Beirut and the Bekaa Valley.
Additionally, it has carried out airstrikes in Syria, saying that its forces are targeting sites linked to Hezbollah and Iranian forces, which are believed to be facilitating the transfer of weapons into Lebanon.
Pakistani authorities issued a travel advisory to its nationals earlier this year amid fears of the Gaza war spreading to other parts of the region, asking its citizens to exercise caution in Lebanon.
“A special flight carrying Pakistani nationals evacuated from Lebanon will arrive in Karachi early tomorrow morning,” the foreign office announced on Tuesday.
“The flight carries sixty seven Pakistani nationals repatriated from Lebanon who traveled to Damascus, Syria by road before being airlifted to Pakistan,” it added. “Four Pakistanis from Syria are also being evacuated with this flight.”
The foreign office said the security, transport and food arrangements for these nationals were made by the Pakistani diplomatic missions in Lebanon and Syria to ensure the safe evacuation from Lebanon.
Speaking to Arab News, Saif Ullah, the spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority, confirmed the arrival of the flight this morning.
“Cham Wings, a Syrian airline, brought 71 Pakistani passengers to Karachi on flight 6Q 661 at 0300 hours,” he said.
Pakistan evacuates 71 nationals from Lebanon and Syria amid Israeli strikes
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Pakistan evacuates 71 nationals from Lebanon and Syria amid Israeli strikes
- Pakistan issued an advisory earlier this year, asking its citizens in Lebanon to exercise caution
- The special flight brought back 67 Pakistanis from Lebanon and four from neighboring Syria