Afghan Pilots Who Sought Safety in Uzbekistan Poised for U.S. Transfer Under New Agreement
WASHINGTON—The U.S. and Uzbekistan have reached an settlement to transfer a team of Afghan Air Force pilots and their relations to a U.S. navy foundation as soon as this weekend, men and women acquainted with the matter explained.
The Uzbek authorities has been underneath intense force by the Taliban in Afghanistan to hand around the pilots, who flew by themselves and relations to protection in Uzbekistan aboard Afghan Air Force helicopters and airplanes.
The U.S. work to practice and construct an Afghan Air Force was between the most celebrated courses in help of the country’s navy. The U.S. spent billions of bucks on the air pressure, which include on instruction, upkeep and the provide of dozens of helicopters and planes.
Between the Taliban, the pilots have been between the most hated members of the Afghan forces for their job in carrying out airstrikes in opposition to Taliban forces. Although the Taliban have promised amnesty to authorities officers and forces, the pilots worry for their and their families’ protection.
Continue to in problem is the destiny of the 46 plane that landed at Termez airfield in Uzbekistan close to the border with Afghanistan. These involve U.S.-provided Black Hawks and Laptop-12 surveillance plane, together with Soviet-period MI-17s.
The Taliban are contacting for the plane to be returned to Afghanistan, a go probable to be strongly opposed by the U.S. Uzbekistan has cautiously hedged relations among world powers in the area and has privately urged the State Division to resolve the situation as soon as feasible.
The Taliban criticized the final decision.
“These pilots must return to their region, the region wants them,” explained spokesman
Suhail Shaheen.
“We are just starting up to rebuild our region. The planet must assist us, rather of hurling hurdles in the way of reconstruction of Afghanistan and financial prosperity of our men and women.”
The State Division declined to comment. Uzbek officers in Washington declined to comment.
The predicted transfer from Afghanistan prompted reduction on Capitol Hill, the place the pilots experienced drawn help from lawmakers who experienced served in the navy. But the response also pointed to continued aggravation with the Biden administration’s dealing with of the Afghan exit inside of Congress, which returns from a recess this thirty day period and is predicted to keep hearings on the chaotic withdrawal.
“Through a large amount of diligent operate, we are hopeful that the pilots and navy personnel, which include the husband one of my constituents, are heading to get out of Uzbekistan this weekend,” explained Rep.
August Pfluger
(R., Texas). “This was completed by continuous operate to keep the Biden administration’s toes to the fire.”
The Uzbek authorities preserved relations with the Taliban for decades prior to the Taliban’s seizure of Kabul last thirty day period, capping a sweeping offensive that captured most metropolitan areas across Afghanistan with hardly a shot fired.
The existence of the pilots, crews and their people in Uzbekistan, totaling some 585 men and women, has been a dilemma for the Uzbek authorities because their arrival.
The Afghans are predicted to fly to the U.S. military’s foundation in Doha, Qatar, the place they will be processed for onward journey. It was not quickly very clear whether or not the team would eventually be transferred to the U.S. or in other places.
Write to Jessica Donati at [email protected] and Siobhan Hughes at [email protected]
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