Uzbekistan Transfers Confiscated Afghan Black Hawk Helicopters to the United States as Tensions Escalate

In a development that has escalated geopolitical tensions, Uzbekistan has transferred seven Black Hawk helicopters to the United States—aircraft that were previously flown into the country by Afghan military pilots fleeing the Taliban’s swift advance in 2021, as reported by American diplomatic sources.

As the dispute over ownership heats up, the Taliban-led Afghan government is insisting on the immediate repatriation of the helicopters, while U.S. President Donald Trump has also called for the Taliban to return American military equipment to the U.S.

A U.S. Embassy official in Tashkent, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed to AFP that the seven helicopters had been recovered, corroborating a report from the Uzbek branch of Voice of America.

The report referenced U.S. Department of Defense officials, who indicated that Washington had recently retrieved helicopters that had been rendered inoperable and flown into Uzbekistan by Afghan military personnel escaping the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.

Uzbekistan, situated in Central Asia, shares a brief southern border with Afghanistan. In response to Uzbekistan’s decision to transfer the helicopters, Afghanistan’s Ministry of National Defense has urged the U.S. not to impede their return and to ensure they are handed over to the Afghan populace, according to an official statement.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan expresses significant concern regarding the situation involving the helicopters, which are considered Afghan property. These aircraft were relocated to Uzbekistan when officials from the previous government departed. Consequently, it is imperative that they be returned to Afghanistan.

The transfer of these helicopters to the United States for any purpose is deemed unacceptable. The Afghan populace has the inherent right to reclaim their assets, and it is essential that neighboring nations acknowledge and respect these rights, as stated in the official communication.

As reported by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), based on satellite imagery, a total of 22 military aircraft and 24 helicopters, carrying 585 Afghan military personnel, entered Uzbekistan’s airspace during the fall of Kabul in 2021.

Over the course of two decades, the United States invested billions of dollars to enhance Afghanistan’s military capabilities following the invasion that led to the ousting of the Taliban regime after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The aircraft that were flown from Afghan air bases to Termez Airport in Uzbekistan included:

– Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano (light attack aircraft)
– Pilatus PC-12NG (multirole aircraft)
– UH-60 Black Hawk and Mi-17 (multirole helicopters)
– MD-530 (light multirole helicopters)

An Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano was lost following a collision with an Uzbek MiG-29 fighter jet that was providing escort. Fortunately, both pilots managed to eject and parachute to safety.

The Taliban has consistently claimed that all military aircraft and helicopters that entered Uzbekistan are the property of Afghanistan and should be returned. In contrast, the Uzbek government has stated that these military assets belong to the United States and cannot be returned, a claim that was later corroborated by American officials. Consequently, the majority of the 46 aviation assets that arrived in Uzbekistan were transferred to the Uzbek government. However, seven operational Black Hawk helicopters were sent back to the United States, as determined by the Pentagon.

In the meantime, the former Afghan Air Force successfully relocated at least 12 Cessna AC-208 reconnaissance and strike aircraft, along with one Pilatus PC-12NG, to Tajikistan.

At the time of the Taliban’s takeover, some Afghan military aircraft were located abroad, either awaiting transfer or undergoing maintenance. In the United States, former Afghan Air Force assets were initially gathered at a military base. By April of the previous year, some Mi-17 helicopters were sent to Ukraine, with a total of 20 helicopters announced for deployment.