The Taliban’s Ministry of Defense has condemned the Uzbek authorities for handing over to the United States a dozen military helicopters that were previously used in Afghanistan before the Taliban insurgents seized power in Kabul. Meanwhile, Trump administration demands the military equipment back.
Uzbekistan has transferred seven Black Hawk helicopters that Afghan army pilots flew to the Central Asian state while fleeing the Taliban in 2021.
Kabul demanded the helicopters be sent back to Afghanistan, while US President Donald Trump has urged the Taliban to return American weapons to Washington.
“The Islamic Emirate is concern about this issue, because these helicopters belong to Afghanistan…. It is unacceptable for us that these helicopters are being transferred to the United States for any reason; because the people of Afghanistan have the right to defend themselves, while neighbouring countries must respect the rights of Afghans,” – a statement of Taliban’s Defence Ministry said.
It recommended Washington “not to create obstacles” for giving helicopters back to Afghanistan but facilitate handing them over to Afghan people instead, - according to the statement.
The withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in August 2021 marked the end of a two-decade-long military presence in the region. However, the withdrawal of the troops has left behind a complex and dangerous legacy, the vast of advanced military equipment abandoned by US forces, which has now fallen into the hands of terrorist groups.
The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) reporter that the United States allocated nearly $90 billion in security sector assistance to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), with the goal of developing an independent, self-sustaining force capable of combating both internal and external threats. SIGAR also reported that since 2010, the U.S. spent over $8.5 billion to support and develop the Afghan Air Force (AAF) and the Special Mission Wing (SMW).
According to Uzbekistan media reports, the 46 aircrafts from Afghanistan were transferred to Uzbekistan, including 22 small turboprop aircrafts - Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano and Pilatus PC-12, and 24 helicopters, mostly Mi-17s, but also UH-60 Black Hawk and MD-530 helicopters.
“This equipment was never Afghan, it was American. [The Afghan Republic’s military] used it, but we have always been the owners,” U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick told reporters. When asked about the fate of the aircraft, Henik responded, “It will be in Uzbekistan. Yes, it is already official.”
The Taliban authorities are not recognized by the United States as the government of Afghanistan, are on the U.S. Specially Designated Global Terrorist list, and are under U.S. and UN sanctions.
Kyrgyzstan has signed a series of cooperation agreements with China and Belarus at the Fifth Forum of Regional Leaders of Shanghai Cooperation Organis...
A group of Azerbaijani civil society organisations has called for increased scrutiny of Swiss building materials giant Holcim, citing court rulings an...
The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is "outpacing containment efforts" amid conflict, weak disease surveillance and limited...
Kazakhstan has reiterated that no existing route can replace the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which carries more than 80% of the country's crude...
Iran has strongly condemned U.S. threats to impose sanctions on and bomb Oman following reported talks between Muscat and Tehran on jointly overseeing...
Dozens of people, including two police officers, were killed and dozens more injured in a bomb blast at a market in north-western Pakistan on Tuesday (12 May), authorities said, in the second deadly attack in the region within four days.
Afghan and Russian officials have discussed expanding political, economic and security cooperation during talks in Kabul, Afghan ministries said.
U.S. citizen Dennis Coyle has been released after more than a year in detention in Afghanistan, with the United Arab Emirates facilitating his transfer. U.S. officials say he is now on his way home following diplomatic efforts involving multiple countries.
Afghan authorities say Pakistani jets entered northern Afghanistan, while Pakistan insists its actions target terrorism, highlighting continued strain after a temporary Eid ceasefire ended.
The U.S. and Iran have reportedly reached a preliminary 60-day ceasefire and nuclear talks deal, pending Donald Trump’s approval, Axios reports. Meanwhile, the GCC condemned Iran’s missile strike on a U.S. airbase in Kuwait, which Tehran said was retaliation for a U.S. strike near Bandar Abbas.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says ongoing conflict, funding pressures and international travel restrictions are complicating efforts to contain a fast-growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Bolivia’s President Rodrigo Paz has taken steps towards potentially declaring a state of emergency as anti-government protests intensify in the early months of his administration.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Kazakhstan on Wednesday for a three-day state visit focused on energy, transport and economic cooperation with one of Moscow’s closest regional partners.
Russia and Kazakhstan signed 15 agreements during President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Astana on Thursday (28 May), including deals on Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant and expanded oil cooperation with Russia.
Kyrgyzstan has signed a series of cooperation agreements with China and Belarus at the Fifth Forum of Regional Leaders of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states, underlining the country's growing economic engagement within the regional bloc.
A group of Azerbaijani civil society organisations has called for increased scrutiny of Swiss building materials giant Holcim, citing court rulings and ongoing investigations linked to its subsidiary Lafarge's activities during the Syrian conflict.
Kazakhstan has reiterated that no existing route can replace the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which carries more than 80% of the country's crude oil exports through Russia to the Black Sea.
Russia and Kazakhstan signed 15 agreements during President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Astana on Thursday (28 May), including deals on Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant and expanded oil cooperation with Russia.
Senior U.S. State Department officials spent three days in Georgia meeting ministers, opposition figures and Church leaders as Washington intensifies its strategic engagement across the South Caucasus.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment