The acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, Amir Khan Muttaqi, addressed neighboring countries - Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. According to him, when the Taliban seized power in August 2021, Afghan military pilots took several helicopters out of the country and transported them to neighboring countries. At a meeting in Kabul with diplomats and representatives of international organizations, Muttaqi emphasized the need to return this equipment to the Afghan people.
"We are asking for the return of the helicopters that were withdrawn several years ago as a result of political changes and transported to neighboring countries. They will be used in the interests of the people, only for humanitarian purposes," the minister said.
Earlier, on September 8, Afghanistan International, citing its sources, reported that Uzbekistan could return 57 military helicopters to Afghanistan in the coming days. On September 11, The Kabul Times quoted Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid as saying, "Uzbekistan has agreed to return the aircraft."
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan denied this information. Press Secretary Ahror Burkhanov emphasized that "the reports being spread are not true, Uzbekistan's position remains unchanged, and such information is fake."
It should be recalled that, according to official figures, during the change of power in Afghanistan in 2021, the military of the previous regime fled to Uzbekistan with 46 aircraft - 22 aircraft and 24 helicopters.
Since then, the interim government of Afghanistan has repeatedly demanded the return of this equipment. However, the Tashkent government continues to insist that these aircraft belong to the US and that it is impossible to return them.
In August 2024, US Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick announced that an agreement had been reached on this issue. According to him, the planes and helicopters will remain on the territory of Uzbekistan, since "they have never belonged to Afghans."
According to data published in February 2025, 7 Black Hawk helicopters have already been returned to the USA, and dozens more are stored in Uzbekistan.
It is known that the debates surrounding this incident are still ongoing, and the Afghan government expects a clear answer on this issue from neighboring countries.
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