Afghanistan

PAKISTAN International Airlines (PIA) suspended flights to the Afghan capital, Kabul, this week after what it called “heavy handed” interference by Taliban authorities, including arbitrary rule changes and intimidation of staff.

The Taliban government ordered PIA, the only international company operating regularly out of Kabul, to cut ticket prices to levels seen before the fall of the Western-backed Afghan government.

With most international airlines no longer flying to Afghanistan, tickets for flights to Islamabad have been selling for as much as $2 500 (R37 000) on PIA, compared with $120-$150 before August.