Taliban hands over Bagram airbase to the United States
U.S. sources report that, amid potential strikes on Iran, the Pentagon has once again taken control of the Bagram airbase in Afghanistan.
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.
The Russian ruble has emerged as the top-performing currency globally in 2025, registering an impressive 38% appreciation against the US dollar since the beginning of the year, according to a report by Bloomberg.
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
Several regions in Ukraine faced heightened alert on Palm Sunday, as reports of explosions and missile threats drew public attention and official responses.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 16th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
The British steel industry is grappling with its most significant crisis in decades, as the government has been forced to intervene in an emergency bid to save the country's last operational blast furnaces at British Steel.
Police in Pakistan have detained nearly 180 people following a series of incidents involving KFC restaurants in several major cities.
The leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Central Asian countries will come together on May 5 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, marking a major milestone in relations between the two sides.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman has confirmed that the second round of talks between representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America will be held in Rome this Saturday.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to hold talks with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Moscow.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment