Afghanistan's national airline is about to begin regular flights from Kabul to Paris, and also plans to add New York and London to its expanding route map, one of its directors said on May 29^th.

An Ariana Afghan Airlines flight left Kabul with the French ambassador on board May 26^th  to inaugurate once-a-week flights to begin "soon,'' said Capt. Abdul Rahman, Ariana's acting head of operations.

"We don't know which day yet. That has to be worked out between the two countries,'' Rahman said.

Ariana has slowly revived its international services since losing six of its eight jetliners during the U.S. bombing which drove the Taliban from power in late 2001. Destinations including Frankfurt, Moscow, Dubai and Delhi are served with an aging fleet of mostly second-hand planes _ three Airbus 300s, three Boeing 727s and one Antonov 24.

Departures from Kabul's bomb-scarred airport are unpredictable, partly because of the lack of radar to guide pilots through the mountains that circle the Afghan capital.

Many foreigners working in Kabul try to avoid using the national carrier, but Rahman said safety standards were high.

Routes to New York, London, Rome and Amsterdam were also planned, he said.

"All our pilots are trained in friendly countries such as France, Turkey and Germany,'' he said. "The planes are in good condition, and it's very safe. Everyone can fly with Ariana