Taliban urges US to return helicopters handed over by Uzbekistan

Earlier, it was reported that Uzbekistan handed over seven Black Hawk helicopters to the United States. These helicopters were originally flown to Uzbekistan by Afghan military pilots in 2021 as they fled the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan. Now, the Taliban is demanding their return.

The Ministry of Defense of the Taliban-led interim government issued a statement expressing concern over the matter, asserting that the helicopters rightfully belong to Afghanistan.

"The Islamic Emirate is concerned about this issue because these helicopters belong to Afghanistan and were transferred to Uzbekistan after officials of the previous administration fled. Therefore, they must be returned to Afghanistan," the statement said.

The Taliban also emphasized the importance of respecting Afghan sovereignty and the rights of neighboring countries.

“The transfer of these helicopters to the United States for any reason is unacceptable to us, because the Afghan people have the right to defend and question their rights. The rights of Afghans, along with neighboring countries, must be respected,” the statement continued.

The ministry further urged the United States not to create additional barriers to the helicopters’ return.

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U.S. and Uzbekistan reach an agreement on aviation equipment passing through Afghanistan, but the Taliban is dissatisfied

“We demand that the United States not increase obstacles to the return of these helicopters to Afghanistan, but rather return them to the Afghans,” the statement concluded.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), satellite imagery from 2021 showed more than 45 Afghan aircraft stationed at the Uzbekistan border during the Taliban's offensive.

For reference, the United States invested billions of dollars in the Afghan military over two decades following the Taliban’s ouster after the September 11, 2001 attacks. However, when the Taliban regained control in 2021, much of the American-provided weaponry and military equipment fell into their hands.