The Afghan Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation on Tuesday demanded an explanation from Air India and Pakistan International Airline (PIA) officials regarding extra security precautions being taken for Afghan passengers at Kabul International Airport.
According to Dr. Daoud Ali Najafi, the Transport and Civil Aviation Minister, Air India And PIA conduct their own body searches of passengers during the boarding process of their flights leaving the Kabul airport. In addition to reportedly causing undue nuisance for passengers, the most controversial aspect of the procedures of Air India and PIA is that the secondary checks have reportedly only been done for Afghan passengers.
Najafi maintained that Kabul airport is equipped with all the security technology and trained professionals needed for proper checks and the procedures being used by these airlines were unnecessary.
"We have received complaints and we told Air India and PIA that after this they must not repeat the checks and trouble passengers," said Najafi. "When the passengers go through our check it is enough and when a plane lands from Delhi or Islamabad in Kabul we also rely on your country's checks."
Nevertheless, according to Najafi, the two airlines have argued that within their contract with the airport it is permitted for them to take their own security precautions if deemed necessary.
Najafi said if this was the case, then the contract should be reviewed and renegotiated.
Meanwhile, a number of MPs weighed in and asked that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs get involved to resolve the dispute. They also proposed reciprocating the procedures taken by the two airlines for Afghan passengers and doing redundant searches of all Indians and Pakistanis as a last option.
"We want the Ministry of Transport to first talk with them and solve the issue and then the second step should be to follow the same behavior as they are following with our passengers," said Mirdad Khan Nejrabi, the Chairman of Parliament's Security Committee.
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