Uzbekistan transfers US-made Black Hawks amid Afghan demands

north_east

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

Uzbekistan has officially handed over seven Black Hawk helicopters to the United States, which were previously flown into the country by Afghan military pilots escaping the Taliban in 2021. The news was reported by Voice of America, citing American diplomatic sources.

Meanwhile, Afghan authorities have demanded the return of these helicopters to Kabul. Former US President Donald Trump has also called on the Taliban to return American weapons to the United States.

A US embassy representative in Tashkent confirmed the transfer to Agence France-Presse, stating, "We have returned these seven helicopters." The Pentagon also confirmed that Afghan army pilots who fled to Uzbekistan during the Taliban's takeover have now returned the helicopters.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) reported, based on satellite images, that over 45 Afghan aircraft were observed near the Uzbek border in 2021.

For reference, the United States invested billions of dollars in the Afghan army over two decades following the September 11, 2001 attacks. However, when the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, a significant portion of US military equipment fell into their hands.