Uzbekistan denied reports of 57 military helicopters returning to Afghanistan

Earlier, Afghanistan International, citing sources, reported that Uzbekistan is allegedly preparing to return 57 military helicopters to Afghanistan, which were taken out of the country in 2021 after the fall of the previous regime. Later, this information was confirmed by The Kabul Times, which quoted Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Afghan interim government.

According to Mujahid, the return of the equipment would be “an important step in restoring Afghanistan’s aviation potential and strengthening ties between the two countries”.

However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan denied these reports.

Such reports do not correspond to reality. Uzbekistan’s position remains unchanged, and the news being spread is fake, — said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahror Burkhanov.

Earlier, the Taliban had repeatedly asked Uzbekistan to return the helicopters. Some analysts believed that it would be impossible to obtain helicopters until the Taliban government is recognized by the international community.

As for the helicopters, I’m not sure if the documentation for these helicopters has anything to do with Afghanistan. The second problem is the problem of the Taliban government, which is not recognized by any country, — said former Afghan diplomat Fahim Kohdamani.

In January 2022, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby stated that aircraft stolen to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan by Afghan military personnel in August 2021 would not be returned to Afghanistan.

Earlier, the Taliban demanded that Uzbekistan return Afghan helicopters. The Defense Minister noted that otherwise, Uzbekistan will face negative consequences.

On August 16, 2021, the Prosecutor General’s Office stated that 22 military aircraft and 24 helicopters carrying 585 Afghan armed servicemen had illegally flown into Uzbekistan.

Earlier, it was also reported that some helicopters from Afghanistan to Uzbekistan were returned to the US. At the same time, a significant portion of American aircraft still remains in the republic.