Uzbekistan has transferred seven UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, previously used by the Afghan Air Force, to the United States, sparking renewed tensions with the Taliban government in Kabul. The helicopters were among dozens of aircraft that Afghan military pilots flew into Uzbekistan in 2021 as they fled the Taliban’s takeover.
According to Defence Security Asia, the Afghan Ministry of National Defense swiftly condemned the move, urging Washington to return the helicopters to Afghanistan. The Taliban-led administration asserted its ownership over the aircraft, stating that they belonged to the Afghan people and should not be transferred to a third country.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is deeply concerned about this issue because these helicopters belong to Afghanistan and were flown to Uzbekistan when officials of the previous administration fled,” read a statement from the Afghan Ministry of National Defense. “It is unacceptable to us that these helicopters are being transferred to the United States for any reason. The people of Afghanistan have the right to defend and reclaim their property, and neighboring countries must also respect the rights of Afghans.”
A U.S. Embassy official in Tashkent, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, confirmed the handover, stating, “We have recovered these seven helicopters.” The official did not provide details on Washington’s plans for the aircraft.
During the fall of Kabul in August 2021, 22 fixed-wing aircraft and 24 helicopters, along with 585 Afghan military personnel, fled to Uzbekistan, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The aircraft included Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano light attack planes, Pilatus PC-12NG utility aircraft, MD-530 light helicopters, Mi-17 transport helicopters, and Black Hawks.
The United States, which spent billions of dollars building the Afghan military before its abrupt collapse, initially consolidated former Afghan Air Force assets at U.S. military bases. Some of these aircraft were later repurposed for Ukraine’s defense efforts, with at least 20 helicopters, including Mi-17s, being transferred to Kyiv.
The fate of Afghan military aircraft has been a persistent source of diplomatic tension between the Taliban, the U.S., Uzbekistan and other Central Asian nations. While the Uzbek government has declared that most of the aviation assets in its possession belong to the U.S., the Taliban continues to demand their return. Meanwhile, several Afghan aircraft also remain in Tajikistan after pilots sought refuge there during the 2021 evacuation.
The situation underscores the broader geopolitical struggle surrounding Afghanistan’s abandoned military assets, as the Taliban continues to push for the repatriation of equipment once supplied by Washington to its former allies in Kabul.