Last year, during the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, A-29 Super Tucano planes were transported to Uzbekistan, with the aim of preventing them from falling into the hands of the Taliban.
And in recent weeks the government of Afghanistan requested the return of the aircraft to the country, however, the Government of Uzbekistan will not return the planes.
There are more than 50 planes and helicopters that were taken by the Afghan military to Uzbekistan, and the country's government says that these planes will not be delivered, as they belong to the US Government.
"I respectfully ask [Uzbekistan and Tajikistan] not to test our patience and not to force us to take all possible retaliatory measures [to retake the aircraft]", said Taliban Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob, without elaborating.
The decision is likely to complicate the Uzbekistan government's efforts to negotiate with the Taliban, including trade routes to Pakistan and neighboring countries. Some planes are also in Tajikistan, a neighboring country.
As of Aug 21, 2021, there were 46 aircraft in Uzbekistan and 18 in Tajikistan, the official said. These included Mi-17 UH-60 helicopters, as well as PC-12, C-208, AC-208 and two A-29 fixed-wing aircraft.
Other A-29s were trapped in Afghanistan, and are currently cannibalized due to lack of maintenance parts, and without the possibility of carrying out flights in defense of the country.
The US Government, for its part, has stated that it has not yet decided on a purpose for these aircraft, and that they are currently in the possession of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The Americans still haven't set up an operation to transport the aircraft to the US.
With information Voa News.
