Uzbekistan called reports that it will return 57 military helicopters to Afghanistan unfounded, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahror Burkhanov telling Daryo that its position remains unchanged.
The confusion arose after Afghanistan International reported on September 8 that “dozens of helicopters that were recently taken out of Afghanistan will be returned to Kabul from Uzbekistan in the coming days.”
On September 11, The Kabul Times claimed that Uzbekistan had agreed to return 57 helicopters, although earlier reports cited 46 helicopters.
The helicopters and aircraft in question—22 military planes and 24 helicopters—were transported to Surkhandarya with 585 Afghan military personnel when the Taliban took over Kabul in August 2021.
They were purchased with U.S. government funds and were temporarily placed at the disposal of Afghanistan’s former government.
Uzbek officials have clarified that, in response to requests from the Afghan interim government, the military equipment cannot be returned, as it remains U.S. property.
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