Singapore Air Force’s A330 multi-role tanker transporter off to Afghanistan

[ASEAN NOW News]

SINGAPORE — In order to assist in the evacuation of United States citizens and Afghan refugees from Kabul, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Monday (Aug 23), that they have offered the use of the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) A330 multi-role tanker transporter.

 

An RSAF Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport aircraft. (CNA Photo)

 

“Countries all over the region, and I’m sure all over the world, are watching the developments in Afghanistan very closely. Foremost in everybody’s minds, it is the safety and security of civilians and I hope all sides will work to ensure this,” said Mr Lee in a joint press conference with US Vice-President Kamala Harris at the Istana.

 

According to Today Online, Lee added that the Singapore Armed Forces is familiar with the challenges in Afghanistan, having deployed military personnel to support the United Nations’ International Security Assistance Force to the country several times in the past. 

 

The Republic has also previously sent provincial reconstruction teams to Afghanistan to help with rebuilding efforts.

 

Responding, US Vice President Harris, who is on a three-day official visit to Singapore, thanked Mr Lee for Singapore’s offer to aid the US in its Afghan evacuations and said she looked forward to following up on the discussion.

 

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The US’ thorny withdrawal from Afghanistan, which has led to a flood of Afghans attempting to leave the country and resulted in several deaths, was one of many issues raised during a 90-minute meeting between Mr Lee and Ms Harris.

 

During the press conference, local and international media pressed Ms Harris about how the evacuation operation has unfolded, and quizzed both leaders about the implications of the withdrawal on US ties with other countries, including Singapore.

 

AFGHANISTAN WAS AN ‘INTRACTABLE TASK’ FOR US: PM LEE

 

Ms Harris said that the US’ priority in Afghanistan now is to evacuate American citizens as well as Afghans who had worked with them and other vulnerable civilians, including women and children.

 

“There is going to be plenty of time to analyse what has happened and what has taken place in the context of the withdrawal from Afghanistan… We cannot be, in any way, distracted from what must be our primary mission right now, which is evacuating people from that region who deserve to be evacuated,” said the US Vice-President.

 

Mr Lee said that Singapore is grateful to the US for its intervention in Afghanistan that effectively stopped terrorist groups, such as Al-Qaeda, from using the Middle Eastern country as a safe base of operations, emphasising that these groups had direct links with the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist group that plotted attacks in Singapore and Southeast Asia.