A number of Afghan nationals who were on the Dutch evacuation list but were left in Kabul have made it over the border to Pakistan and will be brought back to the Netherlands, the foreign affairs ministry has told the NRC.

The Netherlands has urged people not to attempt to cross the border because of the dangers but the 58 have made the journey, and did have email and telephone help from the Dutch authorities, the ministry said.

The group are now in the Pakistan capital Islambad and half will leave for the Netherlands by plane, after first taking a coronavirus test. The others will be brought out at a later date.

The ministry has also confirmed that another group of some 50 Afghan nationals made the journey to Pakistan in September.

The Netherlands brought 1,897 people out of Kabul during the evacuation which followed the withdrawal of peacekeeping forces.

Of them just over 1,000 were interpreters and other essential workers, and their family members. They are now going through the asylum process.