Uzbekistan expected to return Afghan military helicopters to Taliban-led government in Kabul

Dozens of military helicopters flown out of Afghanistan during the collapse of the previous government in 2021 are set to be returned from Uzbekistan to Kabul in the coming days, Afghanistan International reported, citing its sources.

According to the outlet, the helicopters, once operated by the former Afghan army, will be transferred back. After the fall of the Islamic Republic in August 2021, Afghan military pilots flew a number of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft across the border to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

The US Department of Defense previously confirmed that 46 aircraft were flown to Uzbekistan and another 18 to Tajikistan. The fleet included Mi-17 and UH-60 helicopters, as well as PC-12, C-208, AC-208, and A-29 fixed-wing aircraft.

The Taliban has repeatedly called for the return of these aircraft, though officials in Tashkent and Dushanbe have not publicly responded to those demands. Earlier, the US ambassador to Uzbekistan said that under a new agreement, 46 aircraft that landed in the country would remain under Uzbek control. The US Embassy for Afghanistan also expressed appreciation to Tajikistan for refusing to hand over former Afghan military aircraft to the Taliban.

Reports also noted that former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled to Uzbekistan on three military helicopters with several aides before moving on to the United Arab Emirates. Prior to the Taliban takeover, the United States had equipped Afghanistan’s air force with 229 helicopters, both combat and transport, according to a former Afghan security commander.