Afghan pilots seeking security in Uzbek begin US transfer under new deal

The Uzbek government has been under heavy pressure by the Taliban in Afghanistan to hand over the pilots who had escorted themselves and their relatives to a safe place in Uzbekistan in Afghan Air Force helicopters and planes.

The US effort to train and build the Afghan Air Force was one of the most famous programs in support of the country’s military. The US spent billions of dollars on the Air Force, including the training, maintenance and supply of dozens of helicopters and aircraft.

Among the Taliban, the pilots are among the most hated members of Afghan forces for their role in conducting air strikes against Taliban forces. While the Taliban have promised amnesty to government officials and forces, the pilots fear the safety of themselves and their families.

Questions still remain over the fate of the 46 planes that landed at Uzbekistan’s Termez airfield near the border with Afghanistan. These include the Soviet-era Mi-17 along with the US-supplied Black Hawks and PC-12 surveillance aircraft.

The Taliban are calling for the plane to be returned to Afghanistan, a move likely to be strongly opposed by US Uzbekistan has cautiously avoided relations between global powers in the region and privately addressed the issue to the State Department as soon as possible. Requested to solve it soon.

The Taliban criticized the transfer of the pilots from Uzbekistan.

Spokesman Suhail Shaheen said, “These pilots should go back to their country, the country needs them. We are just starting to rebuild our country. Instead of obstructing the way of Afghanistan’s reconstruction and economic prosperity, our help to the world.” should do. of our people.”

The State Department declined to comment. Uzbek officials in Washington declined to comment.

Initial plans focused on flying the pilots to Doha, Qatar, but eventually the first plane carrying Afghan passengers flew to the United Arab Emirates this weekend, people familiar with the matter said. It was not immediately clear whether the group would eventually be relocated to the US or elsewhere.

The relocation from Afghanistan brought relief on Capitol Hill, where the pilots drew support from lawmakers who had served in the military. But the response pointed to continued frustration within Congress with the Biden administration’s handling of the Afghan exit, which returns from a recess this month and is expected to hold a hearing on the chaotic return.

The Uzbek government maintained ties with the Taliban for years before the Taliban’s seizure of Kabul last month, preventing a widespread attack that hit most of Afghanistan’s cities with barely a single shot.

The presence of pilots, crew and their families in Uzbekistan, about 585 people in total, has been a problem since the arrival of the Uzbek government.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee was set to hold a hearing on the Afghanistan withdrawal on Monday, which Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to face questions about the status of the pilots as well as those who are still in Afghanistan or third countries. .

“I’m going to ask and the other members will be asking some tough questions about who are we getting out, how are we getting them out, and how does that compare to vetting the guys who got out earlier. may not qualify,” Rep. August Pfluger (R., Texas), who had pressured the Biden administration to transfer pilots from Uzbekistan privately because a constituent is married to one of the pilots.