Australian government grants protection visas to Afghan female athletes following dramatic evacuation – ABC News

The Australian government has granted eight members of Afghanistan's female national taekwondo team protection visas.

The athletes had gone into hiding following last month's closure of Kabul airport, which had fallen under the control of Taliban soldiers.

Sporting bodies Oceania Taekwondo and Australian Taekwondo approachedthe Australian government to grant protection visas to the athletes the youngest of whom was 16 years old and they were approved on August 30.

The athletes are in Pakistan at the moment. They are being looked after by Pakistani and Australian authorities, according toOceania Taekwondo.

They will make their way to the Pakistani capital Islamabad before departing for Australia.

This is how four people guided a large group of at-risk female athletes and their dependents to Kabul airportand onto RAAF planes.

Oceania Taekwondo president John Kotsifas said he andAustralian Taekwondo chief executive Heather Garriock helped coordinate the evacuation of the athletes from Afghanistan.

He said the evacuation required a "careful and detailed strategy" because the athletes were "on their own" and"very young", while they also did not have any money.

"The only option for the athletes was to make their way to the Pakistan border, which was a very long and dangerous journey, particularly given that the Taliban were now in control of the country and Taliban soldiers were everywhere," Kotsifassaid in a statement.

"These eight women were very brave and despite the obvious dangers they faced if they were caught, they slowly made their way towards the border with great determination and amazing resilience.

"Heather Garriock kept in constant contact with the athletes by mobile 24-7, whilst I tried to negotiate with the Pakistan High Commission to ensure their passage through the border.

"There were constant hurdles and when they finally got to the border, they were not permitted to cross the border into Pakistan."

Kotsifas said the athletes were advised to "go into hiding for a few more days" until documentation needed to gain entry into Pakistan was organised.

Afghanistan's two Paralympic athletes thankAustralia for the role it played in helping them realise their dreams after anABC interview helped kick-start a rescue operation from Kabul airport.

"We finally managed to get the border crossing permits only to be told that the athletes needed to travel another 20 hours away to a different border in order to be permitted entry into Pakistan," he said.

"This would prove very dangerous to the athletes and their lives could be placed in jeopardy if they had to travel so far and to cross checkpoints that by now were being controlled by the Taliban."

The athletes faced furtherhurdles gaining entry into Pakistan before they were finally permitted to do so.

Last month the Australian governmentgranted humanitarian visas to 77 Afghan athletes, officials and their family members, who had flown out of Kabul to Australia before the airport closed.

Afghan Paralympic athlete Zakia Khudadadi was granted a protection visa, which saw her evacuated from Kabul airport to Tokyo so she could compete in the Paralympic Games.

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Australian government grants protection visas to Afghan female athletes following dramatic evacuation - ABC News