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Airlines from Gulf countries have resumed their flights to Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, nearly a year after they were halted because of the violence, an official said Monday. "Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, Air Arabia, Etihad Airways and Emirates airlines have resumed their operations from last week," Zahoor Ali Shah, airport manager, said by telephone from Peshawar.
"More airlines will come forward to start operations from Peshawar as the security situation improves, including Saudi Airlines, which will resume flights from July 1," Shah said. The airlines stopped serving Peshawar International Airport in July after deteriorating law and order in the city and increasing attacks by Islamist militants.
Peshawar, 180 kilometres north-west of Islamabad, has witnessed dozens of lethal bombings and suicide attacks since the government launched major offensives in the region to eliminate Taliban insurgents. The airport is near the areas where the Taliban have been targeting government installations, forcing officials to temporarily close the airport for all domestic and international traffic for a couple of days in June 2009. The situation has gradually improved after successive strikes by government forces, which have taken control of some of the key militant strongholds.
"More airlines will come forward to start operations from Peshawar as the security situation improves, including Saudi Airlines, which will resume flights from July 1," Shah said. The airlines stopped serving Peshawar International Airport in July after deteriorating law and order in the city and increasing attacks by Islamist militants.
Peshawar, 180 kilometres north-west of Islamabad, has witnessed dozens of lethal bombings and suicide attacks since the government launched major offensives in the region to eliminate Taliban insurgents. The airport is near the areas where the Taliban have been targeting government installations, forcing officials to temporarily close the airport for all domestic and international traffic for a couple of days in June 2009. The situation has gradually improved after successive strikes by government forces, which have taken control of some of the key militant strongholds.